BERECWhats newurn:uuid:6c153e19-ed1b-5950-ae42-15e9924b01712018-02-12T18:00:01+02:00BERECberec@berec.europa.euEliminating hurdles for a quick roll out of 5Gurn:uuid:d80753f3-7619-55b7-9a3e-2d93e3f484d42018-02-12T18:00:01+02:00“We want the industry to have predictability for their investments”, said BEREC Chair 2018 Johannes Gungl at the European 5G Conference 2018 held in Brussels today. An expert panel amongst Gungl discussed a roadmap for 5G and the delivery of a European Gigabit Society.

BEREC, within the scope of its competence in 2018, actively and closely follows the development of 5G. It wants to contribute to the removal of potential hurdles to a smooth and quick implementation of 5G in the Member States. For Gungl it is not acceptable that building a mobile site takes 18 to 24 months due to permission and negotiation issues. “We want to give the industry the investment certainty it needs for a fast and consistent deployment of 5G in the Member States”, he said. With this aim BEREC is also supporting the EU Action Plan for 5G.

The European 5G Conference 2018 took place on 12 and 13 February in Brussels and was focused on the connectivity, use cases and deployment models. It brought together high-level stakeholders for the discussion on the roadmap ahead in the continuous journey towards the Gigabit Society.

*Frontpage photo by Forum Europe

]]>“5G is our top priority this year”, says BEREC Chair at the ETNO-MLex Regulatory Summit 2018 urn:uuid:0e362c5e-07cc-55a7-85d2-7aee148bf5b42018-02-01T18:00:01+02:00On 31 January in Brussels, BEREC Chair 2018 Mr. Johannes Gungl participated in the ETNO-MLex Regulatory Summit 2018 “Lost in regulation: towards a new telecom world” where he was interviewed by the Chairman of MLex Mr. Robert McLeod.

The main topics discussed were related to the BEREC Chair’s priorities in 2018, ongoing regulatory debate on the European Electronic Communication Code (EECC) and implementation of Net Neutrality in Europe, including ongoing work on connectivity and questions on access regulation.

J.Gungl outlined that the top priority for BEREC this year is 5G: “We have many topics to work on, but all designed to identify and eliminate hurdles to fast 5G deployment and if existing practices are adequate for 5G”. He also confirmed the supportive role BEREC has to give technical advice in the process of the ongoing regulatory debate on the EECC if requested and that BEREC is “ready to stand up if we see things move in the wrong direction”.

It was the 7th edition of the regulatory summit – a platform for up to 200 high-level delegates, representing telecom operators, the EU institutions, regulators, academics, investors and other industry stakeholders, to discuss key EU regulatory issues. This year the focus was on regulation in 2018, a new access doctrine, business models, 5G, technological convergence and industry collaboration and spectrum policy.

]]>BEREC and RSPG present solutions to facilitate mobile connectivity in challenge areasurn:uuid:693428a2-66e7-5740-972f-9be9129e47ca2018-01-12T09:33:53+02:00While the EU’s goal for 2020 is to ensure that all Europeans should have access to Internet speeds above 30 Mbit/s and at least 50% or more of European households subscribed to internet access above 100 Mbit/s, many countries still face difficulties meeting the increasing demand from users and local authorities for a mobile connectivity available in rural areas and in constrained areas (indoor locations, subways, tunnels, hot spots…).

This report first describes the main issues encountered to provide mobile connectivity in some ‘challenge areas’ where mobile connectivity is limited or non-existent. The report describes four categories of challenge areas: indoor, transportation means, non-profitable areas and other areas (such as protected areas, “grey” areas and low quality of service areas). It mainly compiles initiatives to facilitate mobile connectivity for each of these areas in Europe. The report presents various solutions such as developing network sharing, installing repeaters, Wi-Fi or imposing coverage obligations, depending on the issue at stake. Examples of limitations or drawbacks identified with some of these solutions or initiatives presented are discussed in the report.

In 2018, BEREC will further work on mobile coverage issues in the context of 5G roll-out. BEREC will thus publish two best practices reports on spectrum authorization/award procedures and coverage obligations with a view to considering their suitability for 5G; and will also publish, after public consultation, two common positions on infrastructure sharing and monitoring of mobile coverage. The RSPG will be associated to this work.

]]>BEREC to discuss Net Neutrality issues in light of the report presenting one year of implementation of Open internet Regulation and related BEREC Guidelinesurn:uuid:1bced1e9-d1eb-5197-b799-7a50631dd3b52017-12-06T18:00:01+02:00On 13 December 2017, in Brussels, BEREC will hold a public debriefing to give an overview of the outcomes of the 33rd plenary meetings of 7-8 December in Copenhagen, Denmark. The BEREC Chair Sébastien Soriano will, on this occasion, come back on the work done by BEREC in 2017. He will also present and answer questions, together with BEREC Incoming Chair Johannes Gungl and Co-Chairs of Expert Working Groups, on the following topics:

Net Neutrality: report on one year of implementation of Open internet Regulation in Europe;

Business markets: Non-residential market indicators for the European Commission’s Digital Scoreboard;

Next generation networks:

Implementation of the broadband cost reduction directive (BCRD);

Analysis of individual NRAs’ current work around conditions to state aid funded infrastructure;

Mobile: BEREC work on monitoring of mobile coverage and BEREC/RSPG work on connectivity in challenge areas;

]]>Independent BEREC is a key to provide regulatory predictability and support long-term investment and innovation urn:uuid:6d781f6c-2d45-5fdd-8d4e-c70a577d572d2017-12-05T15:36:48+02:00On 28 November 2017 in Brussels BEREC Chair 2017 Sebastien Soriano and the incoming BEREC Chair 2018 Johannes Gungl gave keynote speeches at the ECTA Regulatory Conference 2017 to underline BEREC’s position in the context of the new Electronics Communications Code, specify important ongoing works and draw attention to the future priorities.

In his keynote speech, BEREC Chair Sébastien Soriano highlighted that, to boost connectivity, Europe needs investments and that, to this end, the whole sector has to work together to ensure the investments needed are there. He stressed it is therefore important not to oppose the different actors of the sector; everyone is needed, entrepreneurs, alternative operators, incumbents, to meet the connectivity challenge.

This challenge calls also for BEREC and regulators to help investors confront the new investment cliff that is marking the telecom sector: “Our job is not only to ensure competition anymore. Our new job is to accompany the telecom sector through the investment cycles of today and tomorrow”. In this regard, Mr Soriano acknowledged that a stable framework is of utmost importance in order to ensure predictability to operators and therefore facilitate investments.

In addition, BEREC Chair Mr Soriano and Incoming Chair Mr Gungl emphasized that 5G and connectivity are strategic priorities for BEREC in the coming years with the aim to enable European-scale solutions. “It is our goal to help reap the benefits of an early roll-out of 5G in Europe. BEREC will actively and closely follow the development and will work to identify and eliminate potential hurdles to a smooth deployment of 5G,” said Mr Gungl.

BEREC Incoming Chair J. Gungl also stressed the importance of an independent BEREC and national regulatory authorities both from the industry and the governments to provide regulatory predictability and support long-term investment and innovation. “With significant investment ahead, transparency, continuity, predictability and consistency in an ever harmonized environment are more important than ever for the sector,” he said and underlined that the potential for such harmonization depends on the national regulators having a common set of competences to ensure a productive exchange at European level.

In his speech, the Incoming Chair has also highlighted the ongoing work on net neutrality implementation. “All national regulators gathered in BEREC are well aware of the fact that the execution of the net neutrality rules in a consistent way across Europe is of utmost importance,” emphasized J.Gungl.

It will be live-streamed on the front page of www.berec.europa.eu. During the discussion part BEREC will provide replies to questions received both from present participants and via Twitter (#BERECpublic) or press@berec.europa.eu.

The draft report provides a comprehensive and comparative assessment of initiatives to facilitate mobile connectivity in ‘challenge areas’, where mobile connectivity is limited or non-existent. It particularly focuses on regulatory and legal measures that have been adopted to resolve that issue.

The draft report describes four categories of challenge areas: indoor, transportation means, non-profitable areas and other areas (protected areas, “grey” areas, low quality of service areas). For each type of challenge areas, the draft report describes the difficulties encountered in the identified challenge areas and describes different technical, regulatory or legal solutions and practices that have been implemented or considered by EU member states.

BEREC and RSPG would like to get feedback from stakeholders on their draft joint report and thus launch a public consultation that will run from 31 October until 28 November.

BEREC values very much the views of all stakeholders, and expresses its appreciation and gratefulness for the time, resources and efforts that will be spent for this activity.

As BEREC is fully committed in enhancing transparency and participation to its activities, all stakeholders are encouraged to submit contributions via online public consultation tool, available together with the traditional email submission.

]]>BEREC publishes study on Net Neutrality regulation in Chile, India and USAurn:uuid:f08c592b-2da8-5f5c-9f63-caf5e933d0ae2017-09-19T18:00:01+03:00In January 2017, BEREC commissioned Analysys Mason to conduct a study on Net neutrality. The objective of this study is to examine the approach taken by NRAs in selected non-European benchmark countries (Chile, India and USA) to address net-neutrality issues. The results of this study are now available and show many interesting takeaways for BEREC Work on this topic, bearing in mind that these different approaches reflect specific legal frameworks and market situations.

Approaches to tackling net neutrality in selected countries

The report shows that Quality of service (QoS) clearly has an impact on net neutrality. Regulators in the markets analysed are actively monitoring QoS, but have chosen to rely on a range of different methods to monitor net neutrality.

For instance, the important role of the complaint systems in the USA and Chile in particular means that enforcement in these two countries has a primarily ex-post character (in contrast to the EU, where Regulation 2015/2120 requires NRAs to monitor proactively, on an ex-ante basis). Moreover, in some regulatory regimes, existing mechanisms and powers to deal with anti-competitive behaviour are preferred to tackle non-neutral practices, which provide regulators with future discretion.

Third-party organisations can also provide useful complements to the NRAs, in terms of expertise and capacity building in measurement systems suitable for the detection of certain types of net-neutrality violations.

In the end, the report demonstrates that many different tools are available to detect practices which may violate net neutrality (either ex ante or ex post), although no single tool would be able to provide a comprehensive solution.

Given the obligation in the EU/EEA upon NRAs to actively monitor non-neutral practices themselves, multiple tools or methods are likely to be required, thus calling for the development of a toolkit that can grow over time as new risks are identified and as new forms of abuse are encountered.

Case studies

The study also presents four case studies from the selected countries. Although none of the benchmark countries has tools and techniques which have been specifically designed for monitoring non- neutral practices, the case studies illustrate monitoring approaches which may be of use to European NRAs as they develop their approach for addressing net neutrality.

Takeaways for BEREC

This study will contribute to an informed public debate and constitute a valuable source of practical information for European NRAs and BEREC while implementing EU regulation 2015/2120. The study will also help BEREC and European NRAs to define their options for addressing net-neutrality issues and identify the requirements and challenges they may face in future.

Disclaimer: The content of this report does not reflect the official opinion of the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communication. Responsibility for the information and views expressed therein lies entirely with the authors.

]]>BEREC invites to its next public debriefingurn:uuid:31f7b501-13de-55b0-bf5f-c0c97dfd05c62017-10-23T10:19:45+03:00On 11 October 2017, in Brussels, BEREC will hold a public debriefing to present the recent BEREC work and the outcomes of the 32nd plenary meetings of 5-6 October in Bucharest, Romania. The BEREC Chair Sébastien Soriano and BEREC Incoming Chair Johannes Gungl, together with Co-Chairs of Expert Working Groups, will present and answer questions on the following topics:

]]>Registration for the 5th BEREC Stakeholder forum is now openurn:uuid:d2ed649d-9cdc-57f7-8d11-7322abdabca02017-10-16T08:26:02+03:00On 18 October in Brussels, BEREC is organising its 5th Stakeholder Forum. This year’s edition will be devoted to many new challenges regulators face in a fast – changing environment.

Investment in very high capacity networks being key in this new environment, the forum will thus be the occasion to further question the way investments and competition could be both incentivized without conflicting under the new access framework proposed by the Commission. The forum will also be dedicated to the question of how regulators can act to protect consumers’ rights as well as to foster innovation in this fast-changing environment.

The draft BEREC Work Programme for 2018 will be presented during the event. A public consultation on the Work Programme will be launched on that day and all stakeholders will be invited to contribute via BEREC online public consultation tool.

The Forum is fully open to public but is subject to prior registration. As there are a limited number of seats for the event, registration will be on a first come, first served basis.

Live web streaming, with sign interpretation, will be provided on the BEREC website on the day of the event. Citizens and other interested parties will have an opportunity to watch it in real time and send comments or questions to the speakers through the official BEREC account on Twitter by using #BERECforum.

The BEREC Stakeholder Forum was established in 2013 and aims at providing direct interactive platform for discussion between BEREC and actors of the digital and telecoms sectors. It also aims at debating and developing on strategic issues related to the medium and long term vision and challenges for the electronic communications and digital markets in Europe as well as for consumer protection.

]]>BEREC Chair – “BEREC and NRAs have a role to make net neutrality implementation a success in Europe” urn:uuid:c6af1f53-dbbf-5dd7-8689-00e50d8efdfb2017-07-21T14:48:40+03:00“European rules on net neutrality cannot be rebutted anymore. […] It is now to national regulators and BEREC to make sure that these rules are properly and consistently implemented over Europe” emphasized BEREC Chair for 2017 Sebastien Soriano (Arcep) at the “Digital-born Media Carnival” in Kotor, Montenegro on 17 July. The event was organised to gather hundreds of online media representatives, information explorers and digital rights enthusiasts to discuss the future challenges to freedom of expression and media professionalism in a connected public sphere.

At the panel discussion “Promises and Perils of Net neutrality”, BEREC Chair Sebastien Soriano explained the benefits and challenges Europe is facing after adopting the rules on net neutrality.

In his intervention, the BEREC Chair listed the actions National Regulatory Authorities can take in order to enforce the implementation of the rules (e.g. monitoring of the market, gathering information from internet service providers (ISPs) and customer complaint platforms and realizing measurements to detect traffic management practices).

Such actions also include the NRAs’ capacity to undertake coercive actions (e.g. by requiring ISPs to deal with degradation of Internet Access Services (IAS), ceasing or revising problematic traffic management practices, ceasing provision of specialised services in certain limited cases and ultimately they can impose fines on ISPs whose practices infringe the Regulation).

Sebastien Soriano again stressed that BEREC’s action is not just a matter of paperwork. It provides solutions, consistency and legal certainty. BEREC, as the umbrella organisation for enforcers of European Net neutrality rules, has a specific role to make net neutrality implementation a great success in Europe and safeguard an open environment for everyone: consumers, businesses and citizens.

]]>Results of the three recent public consultations and next stepsurn:uuid:f32bf1fa-8e6c-53a1-b3b4-3ebf1fc2d4e42017-07-17T11:38:26+03:00During the period between 7 June and 5 July 2017 BEREC has ran three public consultations on the following documents: BEREC Medium-term strategy 2018-2020, Internet protocol interconnection practices in the context of Net Neutrality and BEREC regulatory methodology for quality of service assessment for the implementation of Net Neutrality provisions.

During these three public consultations, BEREC has received 51 contributions from stakeholders and other interested parties. BEREC values very much the views of all stakeholders, and expresses its appreciation and gratefulness for the time, resources and efforts spent for this activity.

BEREC experts will now process all the contributions received in order to draft the summary reports. Internal discussions among experts will also be held in parallel in order to assess the contributions received with a view to amend the documents under public consultations accordingly.

The amended documents will be presented at the 32nd BEREC plenary meeting on 5-6 October 2017 for adoption and publication to the Board of Regulators, together with the summary reports.

The contributions were received through the BEREC online public consultation platform as well as via the relevant email addresses. All of them, respecting the confidentiality requests, will be published on the BEREC website along with the summary reports.

]]>The deadline for the three ongoing public consultations - 5 July 2017urn:uuid:8e543db3-d34b-505f-ba89-1da9dbd277a82017-06-28T18:00:01+03:00BEREC currently is running three public consultations on the following documents: BEREC Medium-term strategy 2018-2020, Internet protocol interconnection practices in the context of Net Neutrality and BEREC regulatory methodology for quality of service assessment for the implementation of Net Neutrality provisions.

Don’t miss the deadline to submit your contribution! All the public consultations are running for four consecutive weeks, and will end on 5 July 2017.

BEREC encourages all stakeholders to submit their contributions via the new BEREC online public consultation tool which will be available together with the traditional email submission.

- BEREC regrets that the review of the SMP Guidelines is conducted in parallel with the Framework Review, and not consecutively. Indeed, the current review of the Guidelines relies on the existing Framework, meaning that the possible evolution of the Framework will not necessarily be taken into account in this Guidelines Review

- BEREC remarks that, in line with previous reports as well as on-going discussion on the new Code, there is a need to address competition issues derived from “tight oligopolies”

- In addition, BEREC's response is mainly focused on requesting guidance on collective dominance. The evolution of electronic communication services markets from single SMP to oligopolistic structures makes the issue of identifying joint dominance more urgent. Yet, past experiences showed that NRAs have had problems when trying to identify joint dominance.

All the specific issues addressed in BEREC responses were previously raised in its reports apart from a request of general guidance on addressing convergent markets and especially bundling practices that are becoming more relevant. This contribution is not to be considered as an exhaustive list of issues as BEREC may raise additional issues when providing its opinion on the draft of the new guidelines, and does not pre-empt the orientation of the BEREC Opinion that will be then provided.

]]>“Our role is to ensure that Roam Like At Home is not wishful thinking but the reality”urn:uuid:cca162d3-10f3-58df-8b5d-275bf2dc6d862017-06-27T09:31:13+03:00On 15 June, in Malta, BEREC Chair 2017 Mr Sebastien Soriano participated in the Digital Assembly 2017 session on “The new roaming paradigm: Switch on your mobile wherever you are in the EU” where he addressed the BEREC’s role in ensuring the Roam like at Home principle and the future of Europe.

During the session, he outlined that BEREC and National Regulatory Authorities have a very technical and specific work in front of them to ensure that roaming like at home is a sustainable reality as we experience it today: “National Regulators in every country have to control the retail offers of operators to make sure they are respecting the roam like at home principle. We are also looking at the very limited number possible exceptions under the defined conditions. And we can also fix possible disputes between operators in the system.”

When asked about the link between regulation and the global competitiveness of European operators, he pointed out that, while Europe has been lagging behind during the last 15 years in the field of smartphone production and digital platforms, it has now a part to play: “Today all the tech giants are in Asia or in US. So it is important to make sure that we have tech giants in Europe. In the telecoms sectors, it could be through the internet of things. It is a new wave of innovation. So, on this particular subject, we have to make sure that we are not over regulating.”

In that regard, he referred to the forward-looking assessment of the current regulation conducted by BEREC and concluding that there is no need for a specific regulation for the internet of things. Mr Soriano believes it is an opportunity for start-ups to grow and for Europe to be back on track.

The Digital Assembly 2017, is an opportunity for stakeholders to debate, take stock and look ahead at how Europe and how its partners around the world are preparing for this digital transformation. It is also an opportunity to have a dialogue on the benefits of the Digital Union for citizens with a special focus on the younger generations.

]]>BEREC adopts Guidelines on Wholesale Roamingurn:uuid:6c027e19-87cf-5fe1-9cdb-68f413a550ed2017-06-21T10:49:16+03:00Wholesale Roaming Guidelines concern the wholesale roaming access obligations for mobile network operators and the rights for access seekers on the application of Article 3 of Regulation 531/2012. In the document BEREC provides guidance to the NRAs, which are required to take the utmost account of it in resolving any disputes or taking any enforcement action concerning Article 3. According to the mentioned Article, mobile network operators must meet all reasonable requests for wholesale roaming access, comprising of direct wholesale roaming access and wholesale roaming resale access.

The new Guidelines replaces the BEREC Guidelines of 2012 (BoR (12) 107), the revision of which was necessary to include the changes of the amended Roaming Regulation.

According to Article 3 (1) Roaming Regulation, mobile network operators (MNOs) shall meet all reasonable requests for wholesale roaming access, comprising of direct wholesale roaming access and wholesale roaming resale access. Direct access means that the retail provider contracts directly with a foreign EEA visited network for the purpose of allowing roaming customers to access the roaming services of the retail provider. It is worth noting that “direct” access is not necessarily physical. The concept also includes the possibility of a direct charging agreement between retailer and visited network operator, in conjunction with physical access negotiated with a host MNO. Resale access means that the retail provider bases its retail service on the wholesale service provided by an MNO usually, but not necessarily, in the end user’s home country.

As from 1 July 2012, the roaming access agreements have fallen within the scope of Article 3 and its later amendments and request for other variants of direct or resale access must be met, provided only that they are reasonable, irrespective of whether the access seeker is an MNO, MVNO or reseller without systems.

The Guidelines apply to “regulated” roaming services, as defined in the Regulation. Except where the Regulation explicitly applies to other services, the Regulation applies immediately to EU Member States. The Roaming Regulation also applies to the EEA EFTA states Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The amended obligations in Regulation (EU) 2017/920 will also apply when they are incorporated in the EEA agreement.

]]>BEREC and its counterparts of EMERG, EaPeReg and REGULATEL discussed the connectivity challengesurn:uuid:66a696c5-6577-5ae6-ae24-a19fcb0a96982017-06-09T12:00:12+03:00BEREC and its counterparts from EaPeReg (Eastern Europe), REGULATEL (South America) and EMERG (Mediterranean and North African countries) met in Cascais (Portugal) on the 31 May, for the high level BEREC-EMERG-EaPeReg-REGULATEL Summitaimed at addressing the main challenges deriving from ensuring connectivity in a convergent world. The meeting has been hosted by the Portuguese Autoridade Nacional de Comunicações

The debate was based on three sessions, addressing the following topics:
- Connectivity: Investments in ultra-high capacity networks and bridging the digital gap
- Mobile connectivity: spectrum issues
- End users rights in connected world: net neutrality challenges

At the end of the Summit the participants adopted a joint declaration, which can be consulted here.

Participants agreed that holding this joint Summit was a fundamental opportunity to promote the needed regulatory dialogue, based on fair and added valued discussions. Building upon the already existent cooperative liaisons and noting the financial support provided by the European Commission to EMERG and EaPeReg, this Summit recognized the benefit of promoting permanent initiatives of cooperation celebrated between BEREC and its counterparts of EMERG, EaPeReg and REGULATEL. The success of the Summit will ensure to frame future common initiatives, such as promoting joint working groups, information sharing and maintaining this high level regulatory dialogue through future meetings.

]]>Invitation to the BEREC public debriefing of the 31st plenary meetingsurn:uuid:2bdb930c-0cb7-531b-a498-dd5a77dfb0d42017-05-31T18:00:02+03:00On 7 June 2017, in Brussels, BEREC will hold a public debriefing to inform on recent BEREC work and the outcomes of the 31st plenary meetings of 1-2 June in Portugal.
The BEREC Chair Sébastien Soriano will present and answer questions during the debriefing on four main issues:

BEREC recently adopted papers on the ongoing review of the regulatory framework for electronic communications;

Mobile Wholesale Roaming Guidelines to be adopted during the plenary;

Draft BEREC Medium-term strategy 2018-2020 to be under public consultation;

BEREC report on regulatory assessment methodology, aiming to support NRAs in the implementation of net neutrality provisions, to be under public consultation.

At the end of the Summit, a Joint Declaration will be adopted, which will be published on the BEREC website after the meeting.

The Summit is a valuable opportunity to enhance the regulatory dialogue between the European NRAs and the counterparts from the Middle East and North Africa, Latin America and the Eastern European countries.

In 2017, BEREC continues to develop and strengthen the contacts with regional regulatory networks such as EMERG, EaPeReg and Regulatel, in accordance with the BEREC Regulation and in cooperation with the EU external action services.

Every year, it becomes ever more necessary for BEREC to engage in dialogue with NRAs based outside the EU, as well as with a variety of regulatory networks, policy-makers and institutions involved in electronic communications matters.

The increasing volume of electronic communications flowing in and out of the EU and the globalisation of the telecommunications industry (similar to another industries) means that policies, legislation and regulations have to be seen from beyond the European perspective and take into account the global perspective. Therefore, BEREC is closely following international trends in technology and changing business models, so that to retain the capacity to address challenges swiftly and effectively as they arise.

]]>BEREC will run three public consultations from 7 June till 5 July 2017urn:uuid:a21c8930-3f4f-581d-9850-9319b528a23f2017-05-24T18:00:02+03:00On 7 June, in Brussels, during the Public debriefing BEREC will launch three public consultations on the following documents: BEREC Medium-term strategy 2018-2020, Internet protocol interconnection practices in the context of Net Neutrality and BEREC regulatory methodology for quality of service assessment for the implementation of Net Neutrality provisions. All the public consultations will run for four consecutive weeks, and will end on 5 July 2017.

Although the approval of the next BEREC plenary is needed for these three public consultations, BEREC invites stakeholders to prepare their resources in order take an active role in providing comments on the documents during these public consultations.

BEREC values very much the views of all stakeholders, and expresses its appreciation and gratefulness for the time, resources and efforts that will be spent for this activity.

As BEREC is fully committed in enhancing transparency and participation to its activities, it encourages all stakeholders to submit their contributions via the new BEREC online public consultation toolwhich will be available together with the traditional email submission.

]]>BEREC publishes views on Framework reviewurn:uuid:85705030-c989-59d9-99af-3f411848840b2017-05-24T15:01:23+03:00In order to provide the co-legislators with relevant technical expertise and concrete proposals for amendments, BEREC publishes a series of short technical documents on non-competitive oligopolies, the forced step-back of regulation, market analysis, symmetric regulation, co-investment, vertically separate undertakings, the double-lock veto mechanism, the duration of spectrum rights, implementing acts on spectrum, information requests (notably on OTTs), the notification process and administrative charges, and the ITRE draft report on the proposed BEREC Regulation.

In December 2016, BEREC published a high-level opinion providing its initial evaluation of the Commission’s proposals for a European Electronic Communications Code and a draft BEREC Regulation. BEREC's high-level opinion included a preliminary assessment of some key topics (the scope of the regulation, the definition of ECS, end-user provisions, access regulation and governance issues). BEREC has since then been focused on carrying out a more comprehensive analysis of the proposals in order to provide technical contribution to the legislative process.

On 23 January 2017 the European Commission registered a notification by the German National Regulatory Authority, BNetzA, concerning the Market for wholesale call termination on individual public telephone networks provided at a fixed location.

On 23 February 2017 the Commission sent a serious doubts letter opening a phase II investigation pursuant to Article 7a of Directive 2002/21/EC as amended by Directive 2009/140/EC.

In that respect, as required by Article 3(1)(a) of the BEREC Regulation (Regulation (EC) № 1211/2009) and in relation with Article 7a of the Framework Directive, on 5 April 2017 BEREC adopted the current opinion in relation to phase II investigation pursuant to Article 7a of Directive 2002/21/EC as amended by Directive 2009/140/EC: DE/2017/1961, “Market for wholesale call termination on individual public telephone networks provided at a fixed location (Market 1) in Germany”.

On the basis of the analysis set out in this Opinion, BEREC considers that the Commission’s serious doubts are justified.

]]>BEREC seeks common understanding on net neutrality with Indiaurn:uuid:0ca74a5d-ba26-5a82-914c-0a9ea307cbcc2017-04-19T11:34:27+03:00Every year, BEREC organises an international mission to a country outside the EU to get insights regarding the country’s electronic communications and digital markets and to promote bilateral relations. This year, the BEREC delegation, composed of BEREC Chair and Vice-Chairs visited India from 29 March until 5 April. The objective was in particular to meet with key stakeholders of the dynamic Indian digital ecosystem.

On this occasion, the BEREC Chair and Vice-Chairs had a meeting with the Indian Regulatory Authority (TRAI). Net neutrality, IT and digital ecosystem were among the most important topics to discuss between the BEREC delegation and TRAI.

BEREC Chair Sebastien Soriano (Arcep) took this opportunity to emphasise that European regulators followed with great interest the Indian regulator’s move to ban Free Basics. He also expressed BEREC’s interest in the Indian industry’s dynamism, notably the impact of Reliance Jio on the market, the cost-sharing model through tower companies and the digital enabler Aadhaar.

This meeting was the occasion for BEREC Chair and Vice-Chairs to engage in a discussion with their Indian counterpart to find the points where they have a common understanding about net neutrality. “India is the most important democracy in the world; Europe is the second one. So, as net neutrality is a democratic issue, it’s really important that the most important democracies stick together to see if we are considering this the same way.”

In this regard, BEREC Chair informed the Indian regulator that BEREC intends to dedicate an important part of its work to net neutrality this year. In particular, a BEREC report on implementation of the net neutrality rules in the EU is to be issued this year. It is also envisaged that, in 2017, BEREC experts will elaborate a tool kit for quality of service measurements

]]>Public consultation on the BEREC Medium-Term Strategy: deadline for contributions extendedurn:uuid:808baffe-04ee-5714-a009-d51cba9dbb212017-04-04T16:06:31+03:00BEREC is currently reviewing its Medium-Term Strategy (MTS) and seeks for inputs from stakeholders via the new BEREC online public consultation tool: https://www.discuto.io/en/berec . The deadline to submit contributions has been extended to 17:00 CET, 5 April 2017.

The purpose of the public consultation is to increase transparency and to provide BEREC with valuable feedback from stakeholders. In accordance with the BEREC policy on public consultations, BEREC will publish a summary of all received contributions, respecting confidentiality requests.

Online consultation tool

When registering with the consultation tool https://www.discuto.io/en/berec, please indicate your name and/or the name of the organisation or company you represent. In case you do not represent an organization or a company, please indicate that this is the case. This public consultation is organised by the Discuto online tool in a way that allows participants to submit their comments to a number of questions. However, in case you send your comments by e-mail, your answers should be organised according to the requested structure (i.e. question by question) in order to facilitate processing the responses.

With the review of the MTS BEREC wants to make sure that its work stays relevant in relation to major developments in the digital ecosystem. The BEREC MTS has the function of guiding BEREC’s work in the medium term and serves as the blue print for BEREC´s annual work programmes.

This public consultation consists of broad and open questions concerning the review of the draft MTS for 2018-2020. In the first section of this consultation BEREC seeks open inputs on which market and technological developments could influence the new strategy, while also seeking answers to questions on more specific areas, such as the end-user experience, competitive dynamics in digital markets and the evolution of networks. In the second section BEREC is seeking answers to questions related to BEREC’s work with its current objectives and how stakeholder engagement could be improved.

From 15 June 2017 onwards roaming providers should not levy any additional surcharge to the domestic retail price on roaming customers in any Member State for any regulated roaming service subject to a Fair Use Policy (FUP). The BEREC Guidelines are designed to explain the Roaming Regulation (at retail level) including the Commission Implementing Regulation laying down detailed rules on the application of a “fair use policy”, the methodology for assessing the sustainability of the abolition of retail roaming surcharges and on the application to be submitted by a roaming provider for the purposes of that assessment. These Guidelines replace the BEREC Guidelines published in 2016 (BoR (16) 34) dealing mainly with the transitional period.

These Guidelines are complementary to the provisions set out in the Roaming Regulation and the Commission Implementing Regulation, and are not presented as an official legal interpretation of those provisions. NRAs are to take these BEREC Guidelines into utmost account when supervising the Roaming Regulation in their Member States.

BEREC Medium-term Strategy 2018-2020: involving stakeholders at an early stage with first open public consultation

During the Plenary meetings, a consultation document on the BEREC Medium-term Strategy 2018-2020 was adopted. The current Medium-term Strategy covers the period 2015-2017 and is reviewed periodically. For the review of the current strategy, BEREC foresees a two-step process of stakeholder engagement, to meet the request expressed by stakeholders to be involved in BEREC’s work at an early stage. The first step is a consultation on broad and open questions to stakeholders on major market developments and how BEREC improves its dialogue with stakeholders. This consultation was launched on 8 March at the first BEREC public debriefing of 2017 and will take advantage of the new online public consultation tool which was recently deployed by the BEREC Office. After collecting the various inputs, the draft Medium-Term Strategy for 2018-2020 will be completed and a second public consultation will be conducted after the 31st BEREC plenary meetings in June. This review exercise, and the process followed, highlights BEREC’s commitment this year to bringing more agility and transparency to regulation as well as to enhance engagement with stakeholders.

Universal Service provisions: contributing to the debate at EU level and updating to new uses

BEREC has also adopted the BEREC update survey on the implementation and application of the Universal Service provisions. The document is a synthesis of the main results on the implementation and application of Universal Service provisions and is an update of the 2014 internal report. It is based on 31 answers from 27 EU member states as well as from 4 non EU member states. The document covers issues such as the designation of Universal Service Providers, assessment of net costs, compensation mechanisms, assessment of unfair burden and measures NRAs have implemented on the affordability aspect of universal service obligations, such as retail price caps. This work shall contribute to the reflections on the evolution of Universal Service in Europe.

Finally, the Board of Regulators adopted a summary report on the outcomes of the Workshop on IoT technologies that took place on 1 February in Brussels, as a follow up document to the workshop itself. In line with BEREC’s engagement to contribute to the enhancement of connectivity and innovation in Europe as well as to bringing more agility to regulation, the workshop was the occasion for stakeholders to discuss the regulatory implications and solutions that might be required to ensure a large-scale and sustainable IoT roll-out that delivers significant benefits to citizens and users across several industry sectors. All presentations and videos from the workshop are publicly available on the BEREC website.

BEREC commitments in 2017 and next steps

This year, BEREC intends to contribute to enhancing connectivity in Europe, especially through an important workstream on mobile issues. BEREC is also committed to safeguarding an open environment, in a constant dialogue with stakeholders. The implementation of net neutrality rules is an important step and BEREC will prepare several reports on this topic. Enlarging the discussion, the impact of devices and contents on telecom markets will also be analysed by BEREC. Bringing agility to regulation is another long-term goal for BEREC and the promotion of transparency tools will be part of it. BEREC will also play an important part in the review of the regulatory framework that will open new perspectives for regulators.

A full list of documents adopted at the plenary meetings is on BEREC website. The next BEREC plenary meetings will be held in Cascais, Portugal on 1-2 June 2017.

]]>BEREC Chair welcomes the EC proposal to harmonize NRAs’ competencies on market shaping aspects of spectrum managementurn:uuid:3a7d3f16-f6a9-540e-832d-42c038e048082017-03-07T16:22:52+02:00Mr Sébastien Soriano, BEREC Chair 2017, took part in several events organized during the Mobile World Congress (Barcelona) including notably the European Internet Forum, the Trans-Atlantic Policy Dialogue, one roundtable and one conference organized by the GSMA. He also took part in several meetings with manufacturers and met with the new FCC Chairman, Mr Ajit Pai.

On several occasions, Mr Soriano had the opportunity to express BEREC views on the ongoing review of the regulatory framework and to share BEREC’s commitment to facilitate the implementation of European digital policy, especially the Gigabit society, 5G, Internet of Things, and entry of new digital players. As such, policymakers and the industry can count on BEREC when it comes to ensuring the existence of competition as a driver for investment. Mr Soriano considered it a “nonsense” to oppose regulation and connectivity; the challenge being to adapt the regulatory toolbox to clear objectives set by the European legislators. He also insisted on the track record of BEREC to deliver as an independent body relying on the expertise of its members.

On spectrum, the BEREC Chair welcomed the Commission’s proposal to harmonize NRAs’ competencies on market shaping aspects of spectrum management. Public authorities, including NRAs have the duty to ensure that connectivity and competition will be optimal in the future. He also warned that a futureproof framework cannot accommodate itself with 25 years individual rights over spectrum chunks that will be decisive for the whole society. Looking back at the great changes the mobile industry has gone through over the last 20 years, he recalled that innovation is such that no one can predict what will be the needs of the sector in 25 years’ time. To support future innovations, including new models and new entries, the framework will need both agility and certainty, which is not the case in the current proposal.

Finally, the BEREC Chair emphasized that networks are a common good and defended the necessity for entrepreneurs and end-users to benefit from an open access to the internet. In this regard he insisted on the need, not only to pursue the transatlantic dialogue built between BEREC and the FCC, but also to enlarge the discussion to interested regulators around the world. When it comes to the relation between net neutrality and 5G, the BEREC Chair reiterated the position adopted in the BEREC Guidelines according to which “Network-slicing in 5G networks may be used to deliver specialised services”.

]]>BEREC will launch a public consultation on the draft Medium-term Strategy 2018-2020urn:uuid:17c68428-5bfd-5954-bafa-b5b6f1bf76332017-03-08T16:38:14+02:00On 8 March 2017, in Brussels, BEREC will hold a public debriefing to launch a public consultation to seek early inputs to its draft Medium-term Strategy 2018-2020, inform about the outcomes of the 30th BEREC plenary meetings and give an overview of BEREC’s work in 2017.

BEREC foresees a two-step process of stakeholder engagement on the Mid-term Strategy. The first step will consist of broad and open questions to stakeholders on major market developments and how the work of BEREC is perceived. This will be launched on 8 March at the first BEREC public debriefing of 2017. After collecting the various inputs, a draft Medium-Term Strategy will be completed and a second public consultation will be conducted after the 31st BEREC plenary meetings in June. The final version of the Medium-Term Strategy is expected to be adopted in October 2017.

During the event the BEREC Chair Sebastien Soriano (ARCEP) will present the consultation document. He will also provide further information about the documents adopted at BEREC’s 30th plenary meetings (BEREC update survey on the implementation and application of the universal service provisions; Summary report on the outcomes of the Workshop on IoT technologies and their impact on regulation), give an overview of BEREC’s work in 2017 and answer questions.

Meeting venue and time

BEREC public debriefing will take place in the premises of the Belgian Institute for Postal Services and Telecommunications, located at the Ellipse Building - Bâtiment C - Boulevard du Roi Albert II 35 - 1030 Brussels on 8 March from 10.00-11.30 (CET).

The public debriefing is fully open to public but is subject to prior registration, the deadline is 6 March 2017. Registration will be on a first come, first served basis.

Questions on Twitter

The live web streaming will be provided on the main page of the BEREC website. Citizens and other interested parties will have an opportunity to watch it in real time and send comments or questions to the speakers through the official BEREC account on Twitter by using #BERECpublic.

]]>BEREC Workshop: Preparing the revolution for the Internet of Thingsurn:uuid:be36b0dc-eb6a-5882-a279-4e3ba22fe7732017-01-30T09:13:02+02:00On 1 February 2017, BEREC will hold an expert Workshop on the Internet of Things (IoT) in Brussels, with live streaming on the BEREC website (www.berec.europa.eu). Dedicated to the topic “Enabling the Internet of Things”, the event will bring together experts and stakeholders to discuss the regulatory implications and solutions required to ensure a large-scale and sustainable IoT roll-out, in order to deliver significant benefits to citizens and consumers across different industries.

While telecom-specific topics (such as scarce resources and interoperability) will certainly be tackled, the Workshop will also consider broader issues pertaining to innovation and investment, consumer rights and data privacy.

The first session of the Workshop will focus on privacy, network security and consumers’ rights, while the second session will focus on diversity of business models and interoperability. The topic of scarce resources (numbers and frequencies) will be dealt with in session 3, and in session 4 IoT industry use cases relating to energy and transportation will be presented.

Opening remarks will be given by the BEREC Chair 2017 Sebastien Soriano, and Dr Wilhelm Eschweiler, BEREC Chair 2016, will close the workshop.

The Workshop is a follow-up to BEREC’s February 2016 report on “Enabling the Internet of Things”, which assessed whether, and to what extent, existing telecoms rules (primarily construed for voice telephony) are also a fit for Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications. In light of the European Commission’s review of the telecoms framework, BEREC considers that, in general, no special treatment of IoT services and/or M2M communication is necessary, except for roaming, switching and number portability. With regard to privacy, BEREC sees the need for a careful evolution, though not a complete overhaul, of the existing EU data protection rules.

This assessment does not preclude that within the European Commission’s review, further areas for amendments of the telecoms framework, taking into account the peculiarities of the Internet of Things services and/or M2M, might be identified.

Dialogue with authorities and stakeholders

With this workshop, BEREC provides a forum for dialogue between national regulatory authorities and authorities which are competent for other matters regarding the IoT as well as with other stakeholders in the industry in order to create awareness and foster both an innovation- and consumer-friendly environment.

]]>BEREC Chair at ITRE hearing: New BEREC for new tasks?urn:uuid:39f93ef6-10b0-5cc7-aa84-49ad469e8fa02017-08-31T15:11:42+03:00

“Do you need a new BEREC to achieve its new tasks and missions?” asked Mr Soriano expressing BEREC’s strong disagreement on the EC proposal for the new structure of the Body.

On 26 January, in Brussels, BEREC Chair 2017 Mr Sebastien Soriano participated in the public hearing of the European Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy dedicated to the Review of the Framework for Electronic Communications.

The hearing was hold in two sessions: on networks and services and on governance, however the cross-cutting themes for all sessions was investment, digital divide and 5G.

The panel of the public hearing together with the BEREC Chair Mr Sébastien Soriano consisted of five high level industry representatives: Ms Lise Fuhr, Director-General, ETNO; Ms Lisa di Feliciantonio, Head, Public Policy and Media Relations, Fastweb; Mr Adam Fox-Rumley, Analyst, Global Telecoms, Media and Technology Research, HSBC and Mr Peter Olson, Vice President & Head of European Affairs, Ericsson.

During the first session the panel addressed aspects such as mapping, market analysis/transnational markets, access regulation (symmetrical and asymmetrical), co-investment, wholesale-only and availability in the context of universal service. Also aspects such as substitutable services/”OTTs”, and security and other requirements.

While the second session addressed the powers of NRAs/competent authorities, BEREC and

the European Commission (EC) taking into account the other bodies involved, such as the RSPG, as regards the general authorisation, the “double lock”, management of spectrum and other issues. The proposed future structure of BEREC was also discussed.

“Do you need a new BEREC to achieve its new tasks and missions?” asked Mr Soriano expressing BEREC’s strong disagreement on the EC proposal for the new structure of the Body. He highlighted several successful outputs of BEREC last year, supporting the idea that BEREC’s institutional set-up works the best in its current way, when the core business is in hands of experts from national regulatory authorities who commit themselves to find solution together.

]]>BEREC key priorities 2017urn:uuid:17da59e8-3751-5b6c-8fa3-8203a659ab832017-01-11T18:00:01+02:00Following a public consultation and the discussion at the Stakeholder Forum, BEREC adopted its Work Programme for 2017.

Next year, the analysis of the Commission's proposal regarding the framework review and the provision of inputs to the European institutions will be a key priority for BEREC.

BEREC will also support NRAs’ efforts towards fostering connectivity. For the fixed market, the work programme includes in particular a comprehensive assessment of the need to review common positions in the wholesale markets 3, 3a and 4 relevant to next generation access. Regarding mobile connectivity, BEREC plans to publish a Common Position on monitoring mobile network coverage, both for regulatory purposes and to empower consumers to choose their provider on the basis of their connectivity needs.

Another important area of work for BEREC will be the promotion of an open environment in the digital world. BEREC will in particular monitor the consistent and effective implementation of the newly adopted net neutrality rules. BEREC will also study the impact of content markets and devices on ECS markets.

Finally, BEREC will define its mid-term strategy for the years 2018-2020. The strategy will build upon BEREC's work to date, and takes into account the major developments that are taking place in the electronic communications field. On this topic as on others like net neutrality, stakeholders will be involved from an early stage of the process.

]]>BEREC key priorities 2017urn:uuid:a7591a72-d215-54e0-b191-12700699c2332017-04-05T09:04:19+03:00Following a public consultation and the discussion at the Stakeholder Forum, BEREC adopted its Work Programme for 2017.

Next year, the analysis of the Commission's proposal regarding the framework review and the provision of inputs to the European institutions will be a key priority for BEREC.

BEREC will also support NRAs’ efforts towards fostering connectivity. For the fixed market, the work programme includes in particular a comprehensive assessment of the need to review common positions in the wholesale markets 3, 3a and 4 relevant to next generation access. Regarding mobile connectivity, BEREC plans to publish a Common Position on monitoring mobile network coverage, both for regulatory purposes and to empower consumers to choose their provider on the basis of their connectivity needs.

Another important area of work for BEREC will be the promotion of an open environment in the digital world. BEREC will in particular monitor the consistent and effective implementation of the newly adopted net neutrality rules. BEREC will also study the impact of content markets and devices on ECS markets.

Finally, BEREC will define its mid-term strategy for the years 2018-2020. The strategy will build upon BEREC's work to date, and takes into account the major developments that are taking place in the electronic communications field. On this topic as on others like net neutrality, stakeholders will be involved from an early stage of the process.

In his presentation Mr Soriano introduced with the adoption of the Net Neutrality rules in Europe, the challenges ahead and BEREC role in implementing the rules. He also emphasized, that Europe secured the openness of the Internet environment at the network level, but the risk is now that bottlenecks appear at other levels of the digital value chain. The European institutions should analyse the impact of other markets on the openness of the Internet environment.

With a theme of "Innovation-driven Internet Development for the Benefit of All – Building a Community of Common Future in Cyberspace", the Conference was composed of 16 forums covering 20 issues, such as Internet economy, Internet innovation, Internet culture, governance in cyberspace and international cooperation on Internet.

]]>Competition is driver for investment – BEREC Chair Eschweiler at the B-day Going Gigaurn:uuid:71758a71-b59e-5c4b-8446-bbcf7ff56c162016-11-21T12:13:49+02:00“Promoting investment is not only one of the framework objectives, but also one of BEREC’s strategic pillars” - emphasized BEREC Chair Wilhelm Eschweiler at the B-day Going Giga, organized by DG CONNECT (EC) on 15 November 2016 in Brussels.
Soon after the publication of the European strategy for a Gigabit society and the legislative proposals for the telecoms review, this was one of the first major opportunities to discuss them at European level.

During his speech at the panel discussion dedicated to analyse how pro-investment is the EC proposal, the BEREC Chair reiterated that evidence shows that in fact competition is the best driver for investment: market entrants have been challenging incumbent operators by rolling out their own infrastructure based on access regulation following the ladder of investment concept. So only a competitive environment can incentivize investment activities by the market players. Wilhelm Eschweiler underlined the importance to avoid any risk of eroding and undermining the principles of the SMP regime in outbalancing the current clear “rule and exception” relationship. Regarding any proposed preferential regulatory treatment of instruments such as “commercial agreements” and “co-investment” for the sake of fostering connectivity, the BEREC Chair urged for a rather cautious approach carefully weighting the pros and cons.

BEREC is currently assessing the proposals by the EC in detail, but tentatively has some doubts on a number of proposed measures in its current form. He also stressed, that there is a need to maintain the flexibility for NRA’s to respond to national circumstances with flexible regulatory toolbox to enable “tailor-made” solutions to achieve the connectivity aim.

]]>F. Barros: "BEREC - perfect guardian for the digital galaxy"urn:uuid:72ec2cc0-892b-5d04-a54c-df46d7a931622016-11-21T15:18:49+02:00BEREC Vice-Chair Fátima Barros represented BEREC at the ECTA Regulatory Conference, which took place in Brussels on 9-10 November 2016. In particular, Mrs. Barros participated as a speaker in the panel discussion regarding “The institutional setup – who will be the “Guardians of the Digital Galaxy” on 10 November.

Fátima Barros presented the steps that BEREC is conducting regarding the Commission proposal of 14 September on connectivity, namely the Electronic Communication Code and the BEREC Regulation. BEREC is drafting a high level Opinion on the EC’s proposals for a review of the electronic communication framework, which will be approved in the next BEREC Plenary (8th December) in Berlin. Afterwards, BEREC will do an in-depth analysis of the articles of the proposal.

Although overall positive about the connectivity proposals, she pointed out some doubts regarding the proposals of the Commission for the institutional set-up of BEREC, as there are many compelling reasons for building upon BEREC’s success, rather than seeking to rebuild it on different foundations. "The current BEREC Institutional model works, and the way BEREC is organized is the best option to guarantee the regulatory objectives. We should not change a winning team. BEREC, in its current structure, works as a perfect guardian for the digital galaxy".

In this BEREC Newsletter edition, please find more information on the following topics:

- Short overview on the outcomes of the 28th BEREC plenary meetings;
- BEREC Report Case Studies on Migration from POTS/ISDN to IP on the Subscriber Access Line in Europe;
- BEREC Accessibility workshop;
- BEREC Future events.

]]>BEREC Chair: Preliminary BEREC views on the EC proposal for Telecoms review urn:uuid:06144ce0-c310-5435-9c04-67e95a4a201d2016-09-30T18:00:02+03:00On 29 September BEREC Chair Wilhelm Eschweiler participated in the Digital Assembly 2016 where he introduced preliminary BEREC views on the set of measures proposed by the European Commission on 14 September 2016 to ensure fast and high quality connectivity for all Europeans.

The European Commission wants to ensure everyone in the European Union (EU) is having the best possible internet connection in order to fully participate in the digital economy and society. With the legislative proposals the European Commission aims to place the EU at the forefront of internet connectivity.

The BEREC Chair reassured that BEREC is supportive of the aims set out in the legislative proposal establishing the Electronic Communications Code and that BEREC shares the European Commission’s objectives around high speed connectivity goals, ultra-fast broadband and 5G deployment. He also confirmed that BEREC welcomes the European Commission’s Communication “Towards European Gigabit Society”. But at the same time the BEREC Chair underlined the neecessity to preserve the successful approach of the current framework that has been ensuring promotion of competition and infrastructural investment as well as high level end-user protection.

in addition, Mr. Eschweiler outlined the further steps BEREC is going to take in the following months. He reminded that BEREC has already published an opinion on the telecoms review at the end of last year. In light of the now tabled legislative package BEREC will undertake a thorough examination of the European Commission’s proposals and evaluate the future directions proposed: firstly, through a BEREC opinion delivering high level messages by the end of this year and, secondly, an extensive in-depth analysis of the European Commission’s legislative proposals on an article-by-article basis in 2017.

During his presentation the BEREC Chair mainly focused on two substantial issues at the heart of the legislative proposals: access regulation and institutional set up.

The Digital Assembly 2016 took place on 28 and 29 September in Bratislava, Slovakia, co-organised by the European Commission and the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The event featured two plenary sessions and six workshops to discuss some of the key topics of the Digital Single Market strategy.

]]>”Invest or die” : Sebastien Soriano message at FT ETNO Summit 2016urn:uuid:f60f9875-c155-569a-901a-42d8cbfa037e2016-09-30T18:00:02+03:00On 27 September, the Incoming BEREC Chair 2017 Sebastien Soriano participated in the 7th FT ETNO Summit in Brussels, Belgium by giving a closing keynote on top three European regulatory decisions taken this year.

During his speech the incoming BEREC Chair stressed the great importance of investments in the telecoms sector: “In order to boost connectivity, investment in the telecom sector — fixed and mobile — will be key”.

But he insisted on the fact that regulation is not the enemy of investment as claimed by many operators: opening telecom markets to competition has been, for the last two decades, essentially a matter of how to open and secure investment opportunities that should be open to all, not only to people in the place.

As a key message, Mr Soriano stressed that investment should remain a priority, if not a necessity, to the operators. “I strongly believe in entrepreneurship as the essential driver of the digital revolution,” underlined Mr Soriano. “I consider risk taking and innovation — of all kinds — as fundamental pillars to build tomorrow’s networks. And this is certainly what made the opening of the telecom markets in Europe such a success.”

Chaired by the Financial Times, and organised in association with ETNO (European Telecommunications Network Operators' Association), the Summit gathered together leading policymakers, regulators, industry executives and investors from Europe and beyond to discuss and debate the direction of sector reform (of its telecoms and digital laws) proposals, and their impact on the role of telecoms in the rapidly developing communications space.

On 29 July 2016, the Commission sent a serious doubts letter opening a phase II investigation pursuant to Article 7a of Directive 2002/21/EC as amended by Directive 2009/140/EC. The Commission’s doubts concern failure to impose regulatory remedies with regard to fibre networks on either local or central access markets in Portugal.

On the basis of the economic analysis set out in this Opinion, BEREC considers that the Commission’s serious doubts are justified.
More specific information about the serious doubts of the European Commission and BEREC’s assessment can be found here .

]]>BEREC Stakeholder Forum 2016: registration openurn:uuid:d532dc46-313c-584c-bc0e-66ebd5f870842016-09-30T18:00:02+03:00On 17 October in Brussels BEREC is going to hold a 4th Stakeholder Forum. It will be devoted to the review of the EU regulatory framework for telecommunications, addressing the topics of connectivity and the digital environment. A draft BEREC Work Programme for the next year will be presented during the event. EU Commissioner for Digital Economy, Gunther Oettinger, and several telco CEOs will be amongst the speakers. More information and the agenda here.

The Forum is fully open to public but is subject to prior registration,
the deadline is 3 October 2016. As there are a limited number of seats for the event, registration will be on a first come, first served basis.

However live web streaming, with sign interpretation, will be provided on the BEREC website. Citizens and other interested parties will have an opportunity to watch it in real time and send comments or questions to the speakers through the official BEREC account on Twitter by using #BERECforum.

The BEREC Stakeholder Forum was established in 2013 with a view of providing direct interactive platform for discussion between BEREC and its stakeholders. This platform supports the traditional consultation process, taking place before the adoption of the BEREC documents. The Forum meetings focus on strategic issues related to the medium and long term vision and challenges for the electronic communications markets in Europe and consumer protection.

On 29 June 2016, the European Commission registered a notification from the Italian national regulatory authority, Autorità per le Garanzie nelle Comunicazioni (AGCOM), concerning termination rates in the market for wholesale call termination on individual mobile networks.

Following its role and rules BEREC adopted its opinion, stating that the expressed serious doubts by the European Commission are justified.

More specific information about the serious doubts of the European Commission and BEREC’s assessment can be found here .

The Guidelines provide guidance for NRAs to take into account when implementing the rules and assessing specific cases. After meetings with European-level stakeholders in December 2015 and a workshop with high-level academic, legal and technical experts in February 2016, BEREC launched a six-week public consultation on the draft Guidelines, closing at 14:00 CET on 18 July. The number of 481,547 contributions received before the deadline was unprecedented for a BEREC consultation, and coming from diverse categories of respondents: civil society, public institutions and independent experts, ISPs, content and application providers and other industry stakeholders. The BEREC Office has processed the contributions received, and BEREC has conducted a thorough evaluation of the contributions, updating about a quarter of the paragraphs in the final Guidelines.

The Guidelines are published together with an accompanying consultation report summarising stakeholders’ views submitted and how they have been taken into account. Given the high volume of contributions the consultation report had to focus on a summary of the main topics and comments put forward. All non-confidential responses will be published separately by 30 September.

The press debriefing was web-streamed and the audience of the stream also could interact with speakers by sending their questions to email or Twitter #BERECNN and #BERECpublic. In total there were 5206 connections to the web-stream.

]]>Public Consultation on Net Neutrality closed: almost half a million contributions received urn:uuid:d012962c-e36e-51ca-a8f1-646253c167ae2016-09-30T18:00:01+03:00The Public Consultation on the draft BEREC Guidelines on the Implementation by National Regulators of European Net Neutrality Rules concluded on 18 July 2016. The number of contributions received before the deadline is unprecedented for a BEREC consultation, reaching almost half a million submissions.

The BEREC Office is currently processing the contributions received as planned. BEREC is focused on a thorough evaluation of the contributions and on the finalisation of the Guidelines, in order for all relevant information to be efficiently submitted for adoption by the BEREC Board of Regulators on 25 August 2016.

All interested citizens, stakeholders and media representatives are invited to participate in the event. The BEREC Chair and Vice-Chairs will be available to answer relevant questions on the subject.

The report on the outcome of the Public Consultation along with the BEREC Net Neutrality Guidelines will be published on the BEREC website on the same date before the Press conference. All the contributions received for the Public Consultation (if not indicated as confidential) will also be published on the BEREC website, though the personal data of the contributors will not be published.

]]>2016 BEREC – Regulatel summit in Cancúnurn:uuid:420fd7d0-2f42-5673-8525-23820969df1f2016-09-30T18:00:01+03:00BEREC and its counterpart from REGULATEL (Latin American Forum of Telecommunications Regulators) met on 24 June 2016 in Cancún (Mexico) for a high-level summit to discuss the current challenges for the electronic communications sector. The BEREC Chair 2016, Wilhelm Eschweiler, introduced to the audience the current BEREC work programme, outlining the main issues BEREC is working on.

In his presentation, Wilhelm Eschweiler explained how the BEREC work programme addresses current regulatory challenges and its aim to prepare for the new challenges that result from the market developments and technological changes. “For 2016 we have identified three main issues that are the most pressing ones. The first one relates to the Telecoms Single Market (TSM) Regulation, which is in force since last November. This legal document contains the provisions for net neutrality and international roaming. The second topic is about the upcoming review of the European telecoms framework. We expect a first draft of the proposals by the European Commission after the summer break.” As a third issue the BEREC Chair named further activities, such as OTT services and spectrum.

Mr. Eschweiler highlighted, that preparatory work for the BEREC work programme 2017 is in progress and will remain its focus to further input to the framework review as well as further implementation of the TSM topics.

The draft BEREC work programme 2017 will be launched for public consultation during the 4th BEREC Stakeholder Forum meeting that will take place on 17 October 2016 in Brussels.

]]>BEREC participation at the OECD Ministerial Meeting on the “Digital Economy: Innovation, Growth and Social Prosperity” in Cancún, Mexicourn:uuid:1eeb79ad-9d61-54b3-a11a-fbb145b4115f2016-09-30T18:00:01+03:00

BEREC Chair Wilhelm Eschweiler represented BEREC at the OECD Ministerial Meeting on the “Digital Economy: Innovation, Growth and Social Prosperity” which took place in Cancún, Mexico, from 20-23 June 2016. In particular, Mr. Eschweiler participated as a speaker in the panel discussions regarding “Tomorrow’s Internet of Things (IoT)” on 23 June 2016 where he discussed the OECD report on IoT and highlighted the main messages of the BEREC Report on “Enabling the Internet of Things”.

“Since connectivity is an essential part of, and a precondition for, the Internet of Things, it is vital that regulatory frameworks concerning telecommunication are fit for purpose”, the BEREC Chair emphasized. Depending on national circumstances, regulatory telecom frameworks might need a ”refreshment” in order to create an environment where IoT services can thrive and which fosters innovation and competition. Therefore, legislators should consider reviewing their telecom laws in order to adjust them if appropriate. In this line, the BEREC Report on “Enabling the Internet of Things” examines if and where adjustments to the EU regulatory telecom framework might be required.

The BEREC Chair also pointed out that, from a regulator’s perspective, in particular the automotive industry and the energy industry are areas where the Internet of Things is becoming more and more important. For both types of IoT services – connected cars and smart meters – usually mobile connectivity and SIM cards are used. BEREC and national regulatory authorities in the European Union are in close dialogue in particular with these industries as well as network operators in order to remove existing barriers and to enable corresponding business models.

]]>It is crucial to retain BEREC’s independence and rootedness in its member NRAsurn:uuid:4c51834c-cdff-5444-b3b2-dc5813c148ae2016-09-30T18:00:01+03:0015 June 2016 BEREC Chair Wilhelm Eschweiler met the ITRE Committee-Working Group on the Digital Union of the European Parliament to discuss the governance of the telecommunications market. During his presentation, Wilhelm Eschweiler introduced BEREC’s main tools and instruments to fulfill its role and tasks as well as it views on the institutional set-up.

The BEREC Chair emphasized that considering the future role and functions of BEREC, it is again worthwile highlighting that the success of the sectoral mechanisms relies on the independance of both BEREC and its member NRAs and on the alignment of competences between them.

Beyond that Wilhelm Eschweiler pointed out that BEREC is willing and ready to take over further functions as and when they might arise. He stressed that this does not however represent an institutional departure from its current role and set up. “We are convinced that such new tasks could be pursued within the current terms of the BEREC Regulation and under the current institutional set-up – as effectively shown with the tasks under the Single Market Regulation” emphasized the BEREC Chair.

]]>BEREC Newsletter 09/2016 is out! urn:uuid:3226382e-45cd-58f7-b5ab-221b4652e3a72016-09-30T18:00:01+03:00In this BEREC Newsletter edition, please find more information on the following topics:

- Draft BEREC Guidelines on Regulators’ Implementation of European Network Neutrality rules
- Draft BEREC Common Position on Layer 2 Wholesale Access Products
- Draft BEREC Report ""Challenges and drivers of NGA roll-out and infrastructure competition”
- BEREC Response to the European Commission’s public consultation on the evaluation of the Termination Rates Recommendation - - BEREC report on Termination Rates at European Level (January 2016).

]]>New Information-sharing portal is open to public urn:uuid:9943e9fc-5b10-549d-a28d-c29cceb8c9702016-09-30T18:00:01+03:00

As of 6 June 2016 public has the access to the new information-sharing portal. It is a user-friendly online documentation tool that allows users to search for and consult various public documents, reports, and decisions published within the electronic communications sector. The published documents are produced and shared by the National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs), and other institutions such as the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC)..

Designed to complement the information available on NRAs websites, the information-sharing portal provides a one-stop access point to public documents in the field of electronic communications and ensures public access to a comprehensive, regularly updated database of documents. The portal includes several sections and covers all categories of documents issued for public use. Users can consult documents online and download the desired files via a link to the original source’s website.

]]>BEREC International Mission to the USA – 2016urn:uuid:618a5ae3-8cfe-528b-9e4a-bb36fa3f782b2016-09-30T18:00:01+03:00In spite of its primary focus being on the European market, it has become increasingly important for BEREC to engage, within the limits of its remit, in dialogue with other stakeholders outside the EU.

In this context, every year, BEREC organises an international mission to a country outside the EU in order to garner insights regarding the country’s electronic communications market main activities, to exchange views regarding business models and to promote bilateral relations.

This year, between 22 and 28 May, a BEREC delegation visited the United States (Boston, New York and Washington, D.C.) and held several meetings with organisations and companies related to the electronic communication and information technology sector, namely with universities, regulatory authorities, policy makers, content providers, electronic communications providers, start-ups, think tanks and investment funds. The purpose of this mission included the discussion of topics such as different regulatory models in Europe and the United States, future business models and investment perspectives, Internet of Things, open standards, (ultra)broadband or 5G.

]]>ETNO-MLex Regulatory Summit: discussion on future-oriented EU lawsurn:uuid:7f11ca46-98cb-59ec-9c6d-28fad76fd7852016-09-30T18:00:01+03:00On 24 May, the BEREC Co-Chair of the Expert Working Group on the Regulatory Framework, Antonello de Tommaso, participated in the ETNO-MLex Regulatory Summit in Brussels, Belgium by giving an interactive interview during the discussion on future-oriented EU laws.

The focus of the discussion was on the priorities of the Framework Review, the tools for a future-oriented regulation and the possible evolution of the sectoral institutional governance.

In relation to the connectivity goal stressed by the European Commission, the BEREC representative, clarifying that BEREC is not a policy maker, expressed though the Body’s support for such objective, as well as for the relevant cross-sectoral measures envisaged by the Digital Single Market Strategy and, with specific reference to access regulation, expressed the need to guarantee stability in the ex-ante approach as well as the necessary flexibility in the NRAs’ toolbox.

During the discussion, the BEREC representative referred to how regulation could further help achieve the policy objectives enshrined in the current framework – competition, internal market, end-users’ interests – and underlined their enduring validity with a view to ensuring continuity to the investors.

“In order for the entire system to work, it is fundamental for NRAs to have a common remit,” he pointed out and, in this respect, he referred to BEREC’s appreciation for the European Parliament’s first reading resolution relating to the TSM proposals, suggesting a standardisation of the NRAs’ institutional tasks.

The event brought together more than 200 high-level delegates, representing telecom operators, the EU institutions, regulators, academics, investors and other industry stakeholders, to discuss key EU regulatory issues as a new set of rules for the European telecom sector is about to be presented by the European Commission to provide the regulation of the field for the next decade.

]]>BEREC views on the review of the Telecoms Framework in Europeurn:uuid:d0b9b6a3-4d9a-5880-a338-6e5c34455c402016-09-30T18:00:01+03:00The BEREC Chair 2016 Mr. Wilhelm Eschweiler recently participated in the Internet and Cable Expo (INTX), which took place on 17 May 2016 in Boston (USA). He expressed some views on the review of the regulatory framework for electronic communications in Europe from the perspective of BEREC.

During his presentation the BEREC Chair pointed out that more than thirteen years after its inception the regulatory framework needs to be adjusted to current market dynamics, developments and changing consumer needs. With a forward looking approach the framework needs to be flexible enough to cope with a fast changing digital ecosystem. He underlined that the review process provides a good opportunity to “re-fresh” the regulatory framework while preserving what is at the root of its success – its underlying principles.

“BEREC’s view, balanced set of objectives – promotion of competition and investment, Internal European market and end-user interests – is still valid and fit for purpose.”

Mr. Eschweiler also reflected on some key substantial of the framework review process. He underpinned that first of all the framework review is part of a wider Digital Single Market strategy by the European Commission. Secondly, from BEREC’s regulatory perspective the “holistic approach” taken by the European Commission makes perfectly sense as digitalisation and evolving technological developments impact a wide array of areas. At the same time it is important to ensure a consistent and coherent approach between various initiatives and to be realistic enough to take into account that regulation on its own doesn’t solve all problems or meet all challenges around the Digital Single Market.

The BEREC Chair concluded his presentation by confirming that BEREC is ready to take up its role and to provide input based on its expertise as previously done. Various current BEREC workstreams are focusing on key telecoms review issues, among them major topics being at the heart of the review:

access regulation and stemming issues around oligopolies;

crucial role of spectrum for the roll-out future networks in an increasing IoT world;

On 22 March 2016 the European Commission informed the Austrian National Regulatory Authority TKK and BEREC about its serious doubts considering that a draft measure concerning the market for wholesale call termination on individual public telephone network provided at the fixed location and the market for wholesale voice call termination on individual mobile networks in Austria would create a barrier to the internal market.

Following its role and rules BEREC adopted its opinion, stating that the expressed serious doubts by the European Commission are justified.

More specific information about the serious doubts of the European Commission and BEREC’s assessment can be found here .

]]>Upcoming review provides a good opportunity to undertake a “re-fresh” of the regulatory frameworkurn:uuid:09aff1cf-da40-5d4d-a0d4-7db60b2060f42016-05-02T11:27:21+03:00On 20 April BEREC Chair Wilhelm Eschweiler took part in the 10th Annual Digital Regulation Forum, London, United Kingdom. The event aimed to promote the discussion of the regulatory landscape in the European telecoms market and to gain valuable insight into the review of the regulatory framework.

During his presentation the BEREC Chair underlined that the upcoming review provides a good opportunity to undertake a “re-fresh” of the regulatory framework. This should be done while preserving what is at the root of its success – its underlying principles. In BEREC’s view the balanced set of objectives (promotion of competition and investment, the Internal market and end-user interests) is still valid and fit for purpose. Furthermore the principle of technological neutrality needs to be maintained.

During his speech, Wilhelm Eschweiler also paid attention to the priorities of NRAs taking into account the changing technological and competitive landscape. The BEREC Chair also highlighted that a clear focus of the review work should be on substantial issues instead of intense discussions about institutional issues. Market players and European citizens are waiting for solid answers on the substance how to cope with the fast changing digital ecosystem and the digital society.

The event brought together more than 150 policy makers, regulators, operators and investors to understand the various perspectives to further advance the regulatory framework. The event acts as a knowledge and networking opportunity.

]]>Further development of the Internet of Things is a central task with implications not only for economy but also for society in generalurn:uuid:279aa921-fe5e-5d3a-9e6d-341318caeacc2016-05-02T11:27:21+03:00A special session on the digital economy, organized by AMCham EU was held on 17 March 2016 in Brussels as part of “the Transatlantic Conference 2016”. The BEREC Chair Wilhelm Eschweiler took part in a panel discussion on so-called 4th Industrial Revolution: The Internet of Things and key policy challenges across the Atlantic.

During the discussion the BEREC Chair emphasized, that the further development of the Internet of Things is a central task with implications not only for economy but also for society in general. Against this background he stressed the vital importance to have an enabling policy framework in place to unleash the potential economic and social benefits of applications for business and consumers.

]]>Effective competition will remain key to meeting high-speed broadband connectivity ambitions urn:uuid:808432e4-f448-5dc1-8b7b-3c3a9d8861c92016-05-02T11:27:21+03:00In order to discuss the BEREC perspectives on the Telecoms framework review and the Telecom Single Market deliverables (Net neutrality and International Roaming), the BEREC Chair Wilhelm Eschweiler took part in the IIC Telecommunications and Media forum on 16 March 2016 in Brussels. Bringing together representatives from the European Commission, the European Parliament, regulatory bodies and leading industry players, the IIC Telecommunications and Media Forum looked at how plans for the Digital Single Market are evolving and the challenge of balancing economic goals with consumer protection and sustainable development.

During his presentation, the BEREC Chair stressed, that “the vision of ubiquitous high speed networks lies at the heart of the EC‘s Digital Single Market Strategy. It is important to bear in mind that achieving these European connectivity targets presents a different set of challenges in different Member States and more general needs a mix of different instruments. Focusing our view on future access regulation effective competition will remain key to meeting Europe‘s high speed broadband connectivity ambitions. „

Wilhelm Eschweiler also added that it is important that the framework enables regulators to support competition and roll-out in the forms most appropriate to their national circumstances

Public Expert Workshop on the Regulatory Implications of Software-Defined Networking and Network Functions Virtualisation

BEREC Future events

]]>BEREC tasks crucial importance for implementation of new net neutrality and roaming provisionsurn:uuid:ce84a1d0-ed6e-5e6b-875e-103d991ca6082016-05-02T11:27:21+03:00BEREC Chair 2016 Wilhelm Eschweiler took part at the BEREC – GSMA regulatory roundtable, which was organized during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.
In his presentation, the BEREC Chair highlighted key topics of BEREC’s work programme this year in a wide field of regulatory aspects. Dr. Eschweiler emphasized, that the BEREC Work programme 2016 is seeking to address current regulatory challenges aiming to prepare for new challenges ahead resulting from market and technological developments.Among the priorities in 2016 the BEREC Chair named – Telecoms Single Market (TSM) follow up, emphasizing, that the TSM Regulation includes an important role of BEREC to lay down guidelines for the implementation of net neutrality rules. Furthermore he underlined that the BEREC tasks are of crucial importance for the implementation of new roaming provisions and for enabling the ultimate objective of a “roam like at home” situation in Europe.” Along with the TSM follow up, Wilhelm Eschweiler also stressed, that the upcoming review of the current legal framework for electronic communications is at the heart of BEREC’s work programme 2016.
]]>BEREC is convinced that Europe needs to develop high-performance broadband infrastructureurn:uuid:52cf0e6a-47b7-5c43-9417-affe53863d182016-02-25T15:07:25+02:00On 17 February 2016 in Luxembourg, the annual FTTH conference took place. The 2016 event focused on a large number of hot topics - for example - fibre-enabled services like eHealth, eGovernment financing and marketing of FTTH networks. Along with other European key decision-makers the BEREC Vice –Chair Mr. Cardani (AGCOM) presented and discussed the broadband situation in Europe and shared the BEREC views on the way towards the Digital Agenda targets.

In his speech, BEREC Vice-Chair Angelo Cardani stressed: “BEREC shares the Commission’s ambitious connectivity goals, and we are convinced that Europe needs to develop high-performance broadband infrastructure, bearing in mind that our target should be long-term consumers’ welfare.”

On the regulatory implications of such goals, Vice-Chair Cardani added: “We think that sectoral regulation can definitely play a role here but we also firmly believe that any regulatory intervention can effectively display its potential only when working in conjunction with all of the other policy actions impacting on the whole digital ecosystem and beyond” and “…more flexibility in terms of instruments available to NRAs should be introduced, in order for them to be able to intervene in such ever evolving context, within the specific markets of reference.”.

]]>BEREC has adopted its Opinion on Phase II investigation (DE/2015/1816)urn:uuid:cf823b1a-ed30-55a3-a844-89cf8c27b77a2016-02-18T16:47:52+02:00BEREC has adopted a BEREC Opinion on Phase II investigation pursuant to Article 7 of Directive 2002/21/EC as amended by Directive 2009/140/EC: DE/2016/1816, “Wholesale call termination on individual public telephone networks provided at a fixed location in Germany”.

On 18 November 2015 the European Commission (EC) registered a notification from the German national regulatory authority, Bundesnetzagentur (BNetzA), concerning the markets for wholesale call termination on individual public telephone networks provided at the fixed location in Germany (corresponding to Market 1 in EC Recommendation 2014/710/EU of 9 October 2014).

Following its role and rules BEREC adopted its opinion, stating that the expressed serious doubts by the EC are justified. For more specific information about the serious doubts of the EC and BEREC’s assessment please consult BEREC Opinion on Phase II investigation (DE/2015/1816).

]]>BEREC Chair presents BEREC opinion on Review of the Telecoms Frameworkurn:uuid:c3e5ac47-b844-5252-bb5a-3513721eb7e42016-02-18T16:47:52+02:00BEREC Chair Wilhelm Eschweiler presented BEREC opinion on Review of the Telecoms Framework at a meeting of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy in the European Parliament in Brussels.

“According to BEREC now is the right moment in time to undertake a second refresh of our regulatory framework to respond to new market developments and consumer needs. BEREC recommends when moving ahead we should preserve our guiding principles and common regulatory objectives that have proven to be successful and are future proof: promotion of competition and investment; promotion of the internal market and empowerment and protection of end users,” said W. Eschweiler during his presentation.

He also stressed that “refreshing” of the regulation should be led by the following principles:

Pursue most efficient, proportionate and least intrusive regulatory approaches in accordance with national market conditions;

Regulatory details to be defined bottom-up by national regulators as they know best their national markets. The future framework should allow for sufficient flexibility for NRAs in that regard;

Regulation, co-regulation and deregulation to be applied according to the needs of the respective markets.

“An evolutionary development of the European regulatory framework for electronic communications is at the heart of the future way to our common objective: the Digital Single Market and, Telecoms Framework review is a central pillar of its strategy as announced by the Commission last year,” concluded W. Eschweiler.

]]>BEREC has started its work to develop European Net Neutrality guidelinesurn:uuid:bc2933b7-d949-5e3e-9c04-21ca5585a1682016-02-18T16:47:52+02:00BEREC Net Neutrality Expert Working Group co-chair Frode Sørensen took part in the #NetCompetition seminar on 26 January 2016 in the European Parliament in Brussels, where he presented BEREC work to develop European Net Neutrality guidelines.

“BEREC is tasked to develop European Net Neutrality guidelines in order to contribute to the consistent application of the net neutrality regulation in Europe,” said F.Sorensen during hispresentation. “And BEREC is performing this task in close cooperation with the European Commission.”

In order to consult stakeholders at an early stage, BEREC held stakeholder dialogue meetings in December 2015. These meetings focused on discussing the meanings of the provisions on reasonable traffic management, specialised services, transparency measures and commercial practices, including zero-rating.

“BEREC has now started its work to develop the guidelines, and will publish draft version of the document for public consultation after the Board of Regulators meeting in early June. Final Net Neutrality guidelines will be issued by 30 August 2016,” acknowledges F.Sorensen.

]]>“Regulatory framework will remain at the heart of BEREC work in 2016”- BEREC Chair presents the role of the regulation at the workshop on “Digital Europe”urn:uuid:a97e5888-25da-5681-9910-4240a299c2122016-02-18T16:47:52+02:00BEREC Chair for 2016, Mr. Wilhelm Eschweiler, BNetzA (Germany), has participated in the workshop "Digital Europe: European and national policies to drive investments, market development and competition", which took place on 12 January Rome, Italy.

During his presentation, the BEREC Chair emphasized: “The review of the Regulatory framework will truly remain at the heart of BEREC’s work in 2016.” Wilhelm Eschweiler also pointed out that in times of a fast changing digital ecosystem BEREC in its opinion proposes to broaden the regulatory toolbox to allow more flexibility and a more differentiated regulation.

The workshop was jointly organised by Italian National Regulatory Authority AGCOM and International Institute of Communications with the aim to provide the participants with more understanding of the topics related to the digital Europe in times of digital evolution seen from policy, regulatory and market perspectives.

]]>BEREC Chair addresses competition and investment challenges at the LATAM-EU Symposium on Telecoms & Media Regulation urn:uuid:ac95eb7f-076f-5938-b51b-2b847f3594e82015-11-26T17:49:46+02:00Fátima Barros participated, as BEREC Chair, at the 6th LATAM-EU Symposium on Telecoms & Media Regulation, which took place in Cartagena, Colombia, from 5 to 6 November 2015.

The BEREC Chair gave the opening keynote speech, given special focus on competition and investment, stating as a main principle that the promotion of competition is the main driver for investment in new infrastructure. This is especially true in the context of the long term connectivity needs of the EU, which has now a new strategy for the Digital Single Market (DSM). Further, while referring to the financial crisis effects on the telecom sector, as well as to the competitive pressure that telecom operators currently face within the sector and also from the new market players (OTTs), Prof. Barros stressed the challenges deriving from the said DSM, as well as from the framework review, briefly pointing out BEREC initiatives at this level.

Prof. Barros also participated at the panel on NGN regulation, focusing not only on asymmetric and symmetric regulatory remedies, but also on initiatives of co-investment aiming at fostering investment at fibre networks.

The Symposium also included panels on the relation between telcos, OTTs and consumers; security and privacy challenges; NGA/NGN regulation; EU and LATAM experiences on competition and investment/innovation; spectrum and policy regulation; and the future of media regulation.

This event took place after the Plenary of Regulatel (the Latin America Telecoms Regulators Forum), with which BEREC has a cooperation MoU.

]]>"Europe needs a competitive telecom sector which invests for quality services " emphasizes the EU Commissioner at the BEREC Stakeholder Forum urn:uuid:baac1ab7-e7ef-5fae-bdca-f03216b3d7872015-11-26T17:49:46+02:00On 15 October 2015, at the Sheraton Brussels Airport Hotel, the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) gathered together more than 180 participants for the 3rd annual BEREC Stakeholder Forum. Topics for discussion were the BEREC Work Programme 2016, a BEREC report on the Internet of Things, and an open session on the challenges and opportunities for Europe in the digital ecosystem.

In her opening remarks, the BEREC Chair, Fátima Barros, underlined the changes and challenges brought by the new digital ecosystem and highlighted the importance of the meeting and participants’ inputs for BEREC in the drafting of its opinion on the regulatory framework review, within the Digital Single Market initiative.

The incoming 2016 BEREC Chair, Wilhelm Eschweiler, then introduced the participants to the main challenges of BEREC’s work programme for next year, emphasizing the tight schedule to implement the new rules for international roaming. The participants of the forum recognized BEREC’s importance in assisting the European Commission on the Regulatory Framework review and were invited to pay more attention to investments in the internal market. The EU Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society, Günther Oettinger, stressed the importance of connectivity, and agreed that ‘Europe needs a competitive telecom sector which invests for quality services’. As part of the process to approve its annual work programme, BEREC is publicly consulting on the document. The consultation is running until 30 October.

During the 3rd BEREC Stakeholder Forum, the participants were also introduced to the BEREC draft report on Enabling Internet of things. The public contributions on the draft report must be delivered by 6 November. The report aims at presenting the most common M2M/IoT characteristics and assessing whether M2M/IoT services might require special treatment with regard to current and potential future regulatory issues. The multinationals Cisco and Microsoft gave their industry perspective in this area.

The last session of the Stakeholder Forum was dedicated to the future opportunities and challenges for Europe in the digital ecosystem. To share their views on what the future will look like in the electronic communications sector and the role of regulators in this space, BEREC invited some major global market players – Google, AT&T and Ericsson – and a representative who provided a vision from the academic world.

The 3rd Stakeholder Forum was web-streamed and the recorded videos and presentations will be available at the BEREC website.

]]>The incoming BEREC Chair W. Eschweiler highlights the upcoming challenges for the telecoms policyurn:uuid:03cdb6c6-b04c-5576-857e-07a7235469862015-10-16T16:28:19+03:00The incoming BEREC Chair Dr. Wilhelm Eschweiler took part in the FT ETNO Summit on 13 October, 2015 Brussels.
During his closing keynote speech, the incoming BEREC Chair highlighted the upcoming challenges for the telecoms policy and the BEREC role in the upcoming Framework Review. The event was attended by top management from national regulators, mobile operators and fixed operators, investment banks, , content providers, handset manufacturers, telecoms and media companies, as well as the European Commission representatives, European Parliament members and their advisors and ETNO members.
]]>BEREC e-Newsletter 06/2015 is out !urn:uuid:5725ae2b-72d1-58f0-b80a-2ea6c20ece5f2015-10-16T16:28:19+03:00In the new BEREC e-newsletter 06/2015 find more information about:

]]>"Evaluation of the existing regulatory framework is needed" - BEREC Vice-Chair representative at the TELCO TRENDS 2015 conferenceurn:uuid:dbfa9327-f270-5a72-9cdf-f6d163c5e1db2015-10-07T12:39:44+03:00In order to discuss the trends in the international telecommunications industry, technical and legal issues, new trends related to the development and convergence of technologies the annual conference TELCO TRENDS 2015 took place in Riga, Latvia.

Representing the BEREC Vice-Chair 2015 and incoming BEREC Chair 2016 - Dr. Annegret Groebel (BNetzA, Germany) gave a presentation “Regulatory environment and upcoming initiatives” in the session Digital Europa/ Digital Single Market. During the presentation Dr. Groebel emphasized, that “evaluation of the existing regulatory framework and assessment if and where adjustment of the pro-competitive regulatory approach is needed to deal with the challenges of converging technologies, new business models, changing consumers‘ needs and changing market dynamics”.

The conference TELCO TRENDS brought together the experts of electronic communications sector from the European Union and the CIS – leading operators, representatives of ministries, authorities and branch-specific associations; content manufacturers and providers, TV channels, hardware and technical solution distributors, copyright protection and licensing specialists.

]]>To make the most of the European digital economy, it is necessary to break down existing barriers - BEREC Chair at the ConTEL Conferenceurn:uuid:076444cc-2b9f-5855-9908-a92f4dcf9e272015-10-07T12:39:43+03:00
BEREC Chair 2015, Prof. Fatima Barros took part in the 13th International Conference on Telecommunications, Graz, Austria with the keynote speech "Regulatory challenges in a new Digital Ecosystem" and opening of the Workshop on Regulatory Challenges in the Electronic Communications Market

Abstract of the speech

Developments in technology, in the electronic communications and related markets, as well as the continuous change in consumers’ needs, expectations and behaviours, is affecting all sectors of the economy and society, resulting in a new digital economy. New opportunities for growth and innovation are emerging in Europe, and it is crucial that the new regulatory requirements and challenges are anticipated and addressed at both national and European Union level, in a coordinated way. The evolution of the Internet and Internet-driven services like the presence of Content and Application Providers, the Internet of Things and Machine to Machine, Cloud Services and Cloud Computing, mean that some services will increasingly become available independent from location, device or platform.

Additionally, consumers will demand hyper connectivity, superfast broadband, wide coverage, high-quality experience, and service ubiquity. Therefore, to make the most of the European digital economy, it is necessary to break down existing barriers, and use a holistic approach to promote the required cross-sectoral measures. The Digital Single Market Strategy for Europe presented by the European Commission last May, goes in this direction and identifies the key role of telecommunications and the importance of appropriate regulation. BEREC, the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications, will closely cooperate with the Commission in the Digital Single Market implementation and is already looking into possible areas of adjustment to the current electronic communications legislative framework.

The main regulatory challenges are related to the fair treatment of players on new and cross-sectorial markets, demand take-up, and the promotion of competition as the main driver for investment in new infrastructures. In order to meet the long term connectivity needs of the European Union, exploit innovation and capitalize on the new digital economy, European regulators will need to have an active role and regulate and deregulate as and when needed.

]]>Fatima Barros, BEREC Chair 2015 at the Digital Business Summit: roaming has been a complex topic in Europe, and the agreed time framework is short. urn:uuid:6b1cca1d-9e62-5303-b02e-ed51fc7496412015-10-07T12:39:43+03:00On 7 July, 2015 APDC (Portuguese Communications Development Association) held the Digital Business Summit in Lisbon, Portugal. The BEREC Chair 2015, Fatima Barros gave the keynote speech on the Digital Single Market, also stressing the recent agreement among the Council and the European Parliament on the Telecom Single Market, namely the abolishment of roaming tariffs by 2017 and the advancements on net neutrality.

The BEREC Chair emphasized that roaming has been a complex topic in Europe, and that the agreed time framework is short. Fatima Barros also highlighted the challenges ahead of regulators, highlighting the need not creating gaps in regulation while avoiding over-regulation.
The Digital Business Summit gathered together all players in the digital ecosystem – operators, consumers and regulator for a debate on goals and objectives, as well as the role of European regulation.

]]>F. Barros, BEREC Chair 2015 at the Digital Business Summit: roaming has been a complex topic in EU, and the agreed time framework is short.urn:uuid:dc497e14-5a16-583d-85bc-620488afdf992017-04-05T09:03:36+03:00On 7 July, 2015 APDC (Portuguese Communications Development Association) held the Digital Business Summit in Lisbon, Portugal. The BEREC Chair 2015, Fatima Barros gave the keynote speech on the Digital Single Market, also stressing the recent agreement among the Council and the European Parliament on the Telecom Single Market, namely the abolishment of roaming tariffs by 2017 and the advancements on net neutrality.

The BEREC Chair emphasized that roaming has been a complex topic in Europe, and that the agreed time framework is short. Fatima Barros also highlighted the challenges ahead of regulators, highlighting the need not creating gaps in regulation while avoiding over-regulation.
The Digital Business Summit gathered together all players in the digital ecosystem – operators, consumers and regulator for a debate on goals and objectives, as well as the role of European regulation.

Photo gallery from the Digital Business Summit.
The BEREC Chair Fatima Barros presentation (in Portuguese)
]]>Outcomes of the BEREC – EMERG – EAPEREG - REGULATEL SUMMIT, 2-3 July 2015urn:uuid:6473e82f-d3cc-5058-9401-9a8168adb75d2015-10-07T12:39:43+03:00BEREC (the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications) and its counterparts from EaPeReg (Eastern Partnership Electronic Communications Regulators Network), REGULATEL (Latin American Forum of Telecommunications Regulators) and EMERG (Euro-Mediterranean Regulators Group) met in Barcelona, on the 2nd and 3rd July, for the high level BEREC-EMERG-EaPeReg-REGULATEL Summit, to discuss the current challenges for the electronic communications sector in the new Internet ecosystem. Representatives from the European Commission and from the BEREC Office were also present. The meeting has been hosted by the Spanish National Authority For Markets and Competition (CNMC).

The debate was based on three different sessions, addressing the following topics:

· The Internet ecosystem: challenges to regulation

· Broadband: Access and connectivity, NGNs and deployment in rural and remote areas; and

· Broadband services and quality standards from the consumers’ perspective.

At the end of the Summit the participants adopted a joint declaration, which can be consulted here.

Participants agreed on the added value of maintaining this cooperative regulatory dialogue between Europe and other regions of the World, namely Latin America, North Africa and Middle East, as well as the Eastern Europe, aiming at exploring ways to promote future joint working groups, as well as to have such a similar Summit in the future.

]]>BEREC Chair at ETNO-MLex conference : action is needed to avoid a new digital divideurn:uuid:04739ed1-5c13-52ed-889e-0b8033407a172015-10-07T12:39:42+03:00In order to discuss the digital priorities for 2015 and key EU regulatory issues, on 23 June the telecom operators, the EU institutions, regulators, academics, investors and other industry stakeholders gathered at the ETNO-MLex Regulatory Summit, which created a platform for up to 200 high-level delegates.

The BEREC Chair Fatima Barros stressed that the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications welcomes the Digital Single Market overall goal and expressed willingness to assist the European Commission in the implementation of the DSM strategy, especially as regards the review of the regulatory framework.

In her speech, the BEREC Chair addressed the digital divide between rural and urban areas emphasizing that action is needed to avoid a new digital divide and make every EU citizen have access to 30 Mbps by 2020.

In the new issue of the BEREC newsletter (05/2015) please find more information on current issues the BEREC is working on, as well the information on ongoing Public Consultations.

]]>BEREC Vice-Chair L. Kozlowska on the importance of spectrum for the networks and services regulated by the NRAs in BERECurn:uuid:f088707e-5dbd-5837-b4d3-0852e8a36a272015-10-07T12:39:42+03:00On 15 June, the BEREC Vice-Chair, Lidia Kozlowska, on behalf of the BEREC Chair 2015 Professor Fatima Barros, participated in the 10th Annual European Spectrum Management Conference in Brussels, Belgium. The conference brought together more than 250 delegates and top level speakers, including the key European decision makers and representatives of the global spectrum communities.

During her speech, the BEREC Vice-Chair emphasized the importance of spectrum for the networks and services regulated by the NRAs in BEREC. Efficient spectrum management is crucial for proper functioning of competition and the achievement of the goals set out in the Digital Agenda 2020. The Vice-Chair stressed that radio spectrum, though not a core competence of BEREC, remains an important part of its work and BEREC maintains close relations with relevant parties working on this subject matter, especially with the Radio Spectrum Policy Group. She outlined major trends in service usage and consumer expectations that need a relevant response. She briefly touched on the spectrum proposals announced in the Commission’s Communication on a Digital Single Market Strategy for Europe and declared BEREC’s willingness to engage in the forthcoming regulatory framework review process.

The 10th Annual European Spectrum Management Conference was an opportunity to discuss major spectrum issues in the context of the forthcoming WRC-15 and developments at a European level, such as the continuing drive towards an internal digital market and the expected release of the 2nd Radio Spectrum Policy Programme. Participants also exchanged their views on the future of the 700 MHz band, offloading, backhaul, auctions and spectrum

On 30 April 2015 the European Commission informed the Dutch National Regulatory Authority ACM and BEREC about its serious doubts considering that the draft measure concerning the wholesale local access provided at a fixed location in the Netherlands.

Following its role and rules BEREC adopted its opinion, stating that the expressed serious doubts by the European Commission are not justified. More specific information about the serious doubts of the European Commission and BEREC’s assessment can be found here.

]]>BEREC welcomes the EC initiative on a Digital Single Market Strategy for Europeurn:uuid:91f44fac-6fa6-503e-9e65-23b9a4ac6eba2015-06-08T18:17:45+03:00
BEREC takes note of the adoption by the European Commission of a Communication to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on a Digital Single Market Strategy for Europe.

BEREC welcomes the new initiative’s overall goals of making the most of the growth potential of a barrier-free, seamlessly operational
digital single market. BEREC appreciates the holistic approach to promote cross-sectoral measures, considering all factors that have an impact on the completion of the digital single market. Being aware that the measures related to the electronic communications sector represent an important element of the Commission’s vision, BEREC particularly shares the acknowledgement that telecommunications represent the backbone of digital products and services and agrees on the need for an assessment of the regulatory treatment of all players on the same market, in the digital ecosystem, and the promotion of competition are the main drivers for investment in new infrastructure, in order to meet the long term connectivity needs of the EU and to exploit innovation such as Cloud computing, Big Data tools or the Internet of Things.

At the same time, BEREC also appreciates the recognition of the key role of the demand side in building a digital single market that the Commission considers from the perspective of consumers, businesses and public administrations respectively.

Through close and continuous cooperation with the European Commission, BEREC is pleased to contribute its expertise to the process and, in the exercise of its statutory duties, is looking into possible areas of adjustment to the current electronic communications legislative framework where this seems appropriate. BEREC would be glad to share with the EU Institutions its ideas on the specific solutions that the EC will propose.

]]>BEREC has adopted a BEREC Opinion on Phase II investigation (FI/2015/1718)urn:uuid:d971be46-5189-50c0-a758-7d8a9e1b60172015-06-02T10:48:41+03:00
BEREC adopted a BEREC Opinion on Phase II investigation pursuant to Article 7a of Directive 2002/21/EC as amended by Directive 2009/140/EC on 7 May 2015.

On 26 March 2015 the European Commission informed the Finnish national regulatory authority, Viestintävirasto and BEREC about its serious doubts considering that a draft measure concerning the market for wholesale voice call termination on individual mobile networks in Finland would create a barrier to the internal market.

Following its role and rules BEREC adopted its opinion, stating that the expressed serious doubts by the European Commission are justified. More specific information about the serious doubts of the European Commission and BEREC’s assessment can be found here.

]]>BEREC Chair Fatima Barros emphasizes the importance of Internet of Things for the EU economyurn:uuid:e3c82a87-2c73-5f9f-9b5b-728261cac1ea2015-06-02T10:48:41+03:00
On 11 May, 2015 the BEREC Chair 2015, Professor Fatima Barros participated in the 2015 edition of the annual Internet of Things (IoT) European Summit in Brussels, Belgium. The summit brought together more than 200 delegates, including the key European decision makers and leading industry stakeholders.

During her presentation on the IoT Regulatory perspective, the BEREC Chair emphasized the importance of IoT for the EU economy and identified a broad set of regulatory challenges like roaming, future scarcity of resources - numbers and spectrum availability, security and data protection as well as the urgent requirement for standardization in the IoT ecosystem. Additionally, the BEREC Chair highlighted the need for telecom operators to develop new business models in order to be part of the new value chain. Finally, she mentioned that BEREC is working in close collaboration with the European Commission on the identification of the main regulatory issues that should be considered in the review of the regulatory framework for electronic communications. Fátima Barros has expressed the regulators' concerns about finding solutions instead of building obstacles in particular, to adopt the most efficient, proportionate and least intrusive regulatory approach.

The Internet of Things European summit examined the current IoT ecosystem and explored the role of IoT within the different verticals in Europe. Participants also discussed the various opportunities and challenges that different industries face, and were encouraged to examine the role of IoT in the key sectors

On18 March 2015 the European Commission informed the German National Regulatory Authority BNetzA and BEREC about its serious doubts considering that a draft measure concerning call termination on individual public telephone networks provided at a fixed location in Germany would create a barrier to the internal market.

Following its role and rules BEREC adopted its opinion, stating that the expressed serious doubts by the European Commission are justified. More specific information about the serious doubts of the European Commission and BEREC’s assessment can be found here.

]]>BEREC E-News Issue n.4. April 2015urn:uuid:9eb535df-dad2-5c69-b0e5-0812b4fdff7f2015-04-13T18:45:47+03:00
]]>BEREC meeting with EP ITRE delegation has taken place at BEREC Office in Riga. Press releaseurn:uuid:d5a3967c-adc7-56d0-b53d-37be304f7e9f2015-04-30T15:30:59+03:00
A delegation from the European Parliament Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), has visited the BEREC Office and held a meeting with BEREC representatives.

The ITRE delegation was composed of:

- Gunnar HÖKMARK - Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) (EPP) (Sweden);
- Constanze KREHL - Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament Member (S&D) (Germany);
- Krišjānis KARIŅŠ - Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) (EPP), accompanying Member of host country Latvia; and
- Mark BEAMISH - European Parliament, DG Internal Policies of the Union, Committee on Industry, Research and Energy.

The first part of the visit was dedicated to the BEREC Office, the European agency located in Riga, Latvia. Fátima Barros, BEREC Chair 2015, welcomed the ITRE delegation to Riga and explained briefly the role of BEREC and of the BEREC Office.

During this session, László Ignéczi gave a comprehensive presentation on the BEREC Office identity and mission, highlighting the most significant activities performed by the Office in support of BEREC.

Panos Karaminas, Head of the Programme Management Unit of the BEREC Office, illustrated the main projects that are currently being carried out by the Office in the interest of BEREC.

In the following session, Fátima Barros presented an overview of BEREC’s responsibilities and achievements in the development and better functioning of the internal market for electronic communications networks and services in Europe.

Afterwards, a state of play regarding the “Telecom Single Market” proposal was made.

Finally, a fruitful exchange of views was held on upcoming telecoms challenges. Looking forward to the Review of the European Framework on electronic communications in 2016, Fátima Barros stressed: “BEREC continues to be ready to deliver opinions to the European Parliament (and the other European Institutions) on any matter regarding electronic communications within its competence.”

At the end of the meeting, ITRE representatives and BEREC expressed their great satisfaction with the outcomes of the visit to the BEREC Office of a delegation of the European Parliament.

Riga, 8 April 2015

NOTE TO THE EDITOR

About BEREC

BEREC is composed of a Board of Regulators consisting of the Heads of the 28 national regulatory authorities (NRAs). BEREC advises the European Commission and its member NRAs, and assists the European Parliament and Council, on issues related to the application of the EU regulatory framework for electronic communications. BEREC seeks to ensure fair competition and consistency of regulation in the internal market for electronic communications, for the benefit of European consumers. In particular, it provides expert advice on market definitions, analysis and remedies, on the definition of transnational markets, and on cross-border disputes and numbering issues. BEREC also provides expert opinions on emerging challenges including the promotion of broadband, net neutrality and converging markets, and plays an active role in public discussions on these issues.

Glossary

BEREC: Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications;

BEREC Office: Office of the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications;

BNetzA: The Federal Network Agency for Electricity, Gas, Telecommunications, Post and Railway, or Bundesnetzagentur as it is commonly known, promotes effective competition in the regulated areas and ensures non-discriminatory access to networks in Germany.

]]>Main outcomes from the BEREC Accessibility workshopurn:uuid:255ad584-86a4-520a-9826-41a7a1e2b4302015-04-13T18:45:47+03:00
On 4th March BEREC organised an Accessibility Workshop, a public event dedicated to the accessibility of electronic communications services.

The workshop will serve as a valuable input to BEREC’s update to its Report on Equivalent Access and Choice for Disabled End Users and BEREC will continue to follow the issues raised during the event.

b) The contribution of regulators to improving accessibility for disabled citizens;

c) Accessibility considered from the industry perspective;

d) Designing for all - A manufacturers and service providers’ challenge.

The event was opened by the BEREC Chair (Prof. Fátima Barros) and there was active participation from around 70 representatives from regulators, manufacturers, disability associations, service providers, independent experts and from the European Commission.

A number of recommendations and suggestions were made (directed to BEREC and to stakeholders) to improve policies and business practices and help promote equivalent access and choice for end-users with disabilities. These covered areas such as better monitoring, accessible information and better regulation.

Regarding better monitoring, some participants suggested it would be important to benchmark relevant indicators for accessibility in communications markets; others were also in favour of collecting more detailed and more updated statistics across the EU; and participants looked forward to the update to BEREC’s Report on Equivalent Access and Choice for Disabled End-Users that is planned for the end of 2015.

Concerning accessible information, particular emphasis was placed on the need for institutions and service providers to constantly improve the accessibility and usability of their websites; the value of accessible communications in helping to promote the inclusion of disabled citizens in the workplace was noted; and the importance of active engagement with disabled citizens and their representative organisations was highlighted, namely in order to gain more sensitivity and insight into disability issues and promote measures (e.g. consumer guides and comparison websites) that support better decision making by all end-users, in particular those with disabilities.

As for better regulation, it was suggested that NRAs need to have a more regular and open dialogue with other public entities about disability issues; NRAs were recommended to strengthen their cooperation with disability associations, consumer associations and with the private sector; and participants also discussed issues around “universal design”, (industry-led) technical standardisation and the possibly of re-examining the provisions that operators make to serve disabled customers.

Video Gallery

]]>Public debriefing from the 22th BEREC plenary: presentations availableurn:uuid:bf42660e-11fb-5a6b-ad92-8412c9dbbf1b2015-04-30T15:35:21+03:00
On 4 March 2015 in Brussels BEREC presented the results from its 22nd plenary meeting, which took place on 26 and 27 February 2015 in Bern (Switzerland) and the BEREC public Workshop on Oligopoly Analysis and Regulation which took place on 25 February 2015 prior to the plenaries.

The BEREC Chair 2015, Prof. Fatima Barros, informed the participants of the debriefing on major concerns on Digital Single market the participants of the Plenary have raised, among them:
- high speed broadband availability for the rural and sparsely populated areas;
- framework, that ensures the consumers to engage with digital services with more confidence;
- emerging completion and the consumer rights.

The Administrative Manager of the BEREC Office, Lazslo Igneczi, presented the new approach to more transparent communication, presenting the tools the BEREC office use for communication. In order to emphasize the BEREC commitments to increase the transparency, for the first time the public debriefing was live streamed and the videos will be later available also on BEREC Youtube channel.

As the BEREC 22nd Plenary meeting was preceded by a public workshop to discuss the emergence of oligopolies in both fixed and mobile markets, and consider whether existing regulatory tools are adequate to address the potential for “collective dominance”, during the public debriefing Jorge Infante Gonzales (Co-Chair of the BEREC Market and Economic Analysis Expert Working Group) presented the major issues on the question in matter.

Draft report on oligopoly to be approved in the BEREC 23rd Plenary meeting in Bergen, Norway in 6 June and definitive report will be published on December, 2015.

]]>#BERECWorkshop on Oligopoly Analysis and Regulation resultsurn:uuid:52251225-9a84-54c5-841d-40d03b19b8512015-04-30T15:41:47+03:00
On 25 February 2015, in Berne, Switzerland, BEREC held a public Workshop on oligopoly analysis and regulation, hosted by the Swiss Federal Communications Commission (ComCom) and Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM / BAKOM / UFCOM). The workshop was attended by more than 160 participants from 64 different organisations.

The Workshop had the objective to trigger additional reflection regarding the application of the existing regulatory framework to oligopolistic situations and their impact on the market regulation.

The main topics discussed during the Workshop were the following:

Trends leading to oligopolistic market structures, namely mergers and acquisitions, in the EU;

Market analysis in the context of potential oligopolistic situations;

Remedies in the context of oligopolistic situations.

The main speakers at the event included the BEREC Chair, representative of the Chief Competition Economist at DG Competition (European Commission), the Heads of ComCom and RTR and representatives of the following stakeholders: ECTA, ETNO, GSMA, EAFM and Cable Europe.

The Workshop was moderated by Prof. Brunno Jullien, IDEI Researcher, Member of the Toulouse School of Economics (TSE). More information about the specific topics for discussion can be found in the documents provided in the current section of the BEREC website.

]]>BEREC debriefing first time in live streaming on BEREC websiteurn:uuid:65d7ba53-2517-5afa-8201-11067a85fe1c2015-04-13T17:54:03+03:00
Tomorrow, 4 March 2015, from 15.00 to 17.00, in Albert Borschette Conference Center, at room 5B, (Brussels) , BEREC will hold a public debriefing for presenting the results from its 22nd BEREC plenary, which took place on 26 and 27 February 2015 in Berne.

]]>BEREC discussed the future of the sector in 5 years under the leadership of the BEREC Chair 2015 – Prof. Fátima Barrosurn:uuid:b27d1449-0551-53a1-8baf-a27e51e76bbb2015-04-13T18:45:46+03:00

BEREC held its first Plenary meeting of the year in Bern, Switzerland, on 26 and 27 February 2015.

The Plenary meeting was preceded by a public workshop, on 25 February 2015, to discuss the emergence of oligopolies in both fixed and mobile markets, and consider whether existing regulatory tools are adequate to address the potential for “collective dominance”. The workshop benefited from the active participation of stakeholders, as well as from NRAs from markets which have experienced recent market consolidation. More information about the workshop is available here.

During the Plenary meeting BEREC members discussed the main challenges that the sector will face in the next five years, in an attempt to identify potential bottlenecks to be addressed by the next review of the EU regulatory framework. This was the first of a series of sessions for exchanging views with the European Commission aiming at supporting the Commission in its undertaking for the legislative review, in the context of the Digital Single Market (DSM). A number of high level key challenges were identified: in an all-digital society new competition bottlenecks may emerge and must be dealt with to protect consumer choice; ensuring all consumers available and affordable high-speed broadband must be addressed in rural and more sparsely populated areas; the framework must evolve to ensure consumers can engage with digital services with more and more confidence; despite the level and quality of broadband coverage in many regions, lack of demand remains a concern which has to be appropriately addressed.

This was the first BEREC Plenary meeting under the chairmanship of Fátima Barros, President of the Portuguese Regulator, ANACOM.

Riga, 2 March 2015

NOTE TO THE EDITOR

About BEREC

BEREC is composed of a Board of Regulators consisting of the Heads of the 28 national regulatory authorities (NRAs). BEREC advises the European Commission and its member NRAs, and assists the European Parliament and Council, on issues related to the application of the EU regulatory framework for electronic communications. BEREC seeks to ensure fair competition and consistency of regulation in the internal market for electronic communications, for the benefit of European consumers. In particular, it provides expert advice on market definitions, analysis and remedies, on the definition of transnational markets, and on cross-border disputes and numbering issues. BEREC also provides expert opinions on emerging challenges including the promotion of broadband, net neutrality and converging markets, and plays an active role in public discussions on these issues.

]]>BEREC discussed the future of the sector in 5 years under the leadership of the BEREC Chair 2015 – Prof. Fátima Barrosurn:uuid:2d680c99-53d7-5cda-bc93-c5a92e44a46e2015-03-02T19:45:09+02:00
BEREC held its first Plenary meeting of the year in Bern, Switzerland, on 26 and 27 February 2015.

The Plenary meeting was preceded by a public workshop, on 25 February 2015, to discuss the emergence of oligopolies in both fixed and mobile markets, and consider whether existing regulatory tools are adequate to address the potential for “collective dominance”. The workshop benefited from the active participation of stakeholders, as well as from NRAs from markets which have experienced recent market consolidation. More information about the workshop is available here. The workshop was video-recorded and the recording will be made publicly available in the forthcoming days through the BEREC website.

During the Plenary meeting BEREC members discussed the main challenges that the sector will face in the next five years, in an attempt to identify potential bottlenecks to be addressed by the next review of the EU regulatory framework. This was the first of a series of sessions for exchanging views with the European Commission aiming at supporting the Commission in its undertaking for the legislative review, in the context of the Digital Single Market (DSM). A number of high level key challenges were identified: in an all-digital society new competition bottlenecks may emerge and must be dealt with to protect consumer choice; ensuring all consumers available and affordable high-speed broadband must be addressed in rural and more sparsely populated areas; the framework must evolve to ensure consumers can engage with digital services with more and more confidence; despite the level and quality of broadband coverage in many regions, lack of demand remains a concern which has to be appropriately addressed.

This was the first BEREC Plenary meeting under the chairmanship of Fátima Barros, President of the Portuguese Regulator, ANACOM.

The BEREC Chair will present the results of the 22nd plenary meeting and the BEREC Workshop at a public debriefing on 4 March 2015, from 15.00 to 17.00.

The debriefing will be made available to the public through live video streaming, starting at 15.00 h, on 4 March 2015, to be accessible here.

]]>#BERECWorkshop on Oligopoly Analysis and Regulation: summary on @bereceuropaeuurn:uuid:f8306cae-621c-5ffb-8220-c33f6d606dfc2015-04-13T18:45:46+03:00
On the BEREC Official twitter account you may find the main statements from the today's BEREC Workshopon Oligopoly Analysis and Regulation. In the next days the full video will be uploaded on BEREC website.

Jacques Bonifay, Chair of the European Association of Full MVNOs (EAFM)

Laszlo Toth, Senior Director, Europe, GSM Association (GSMA)

Closing remark

Fátima Barros, BEREC Chair 2015

]]>Prof. Fatima Barros, BEREC Chair 2015 at FTTH Conference 2015: video availableurn:uuid:006c6185-a6e7-5797-b19b-5c15d472bae52015-02-24T15:55:36+02:00BEREC Chair 2015 Fatima Barros has participated to the FTTH Conference 2015 in Warsaw. Video available at FTTH Council of Europe You Tube channel.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p3x5loTELw
]]>Today BEREC has unveiled the new look of its institutional websiteurn:uuid:0c97695d-11fc-5345-88b6-8c3e5c04dfc02015-04-30T15:48:17+03:00
The website is the BEREC key communication channel; therefore it must have a clear identity, be continuously updated and be easy to navigate. To this aim, the website design has been updated:

first of all, to improve the accessibility to the portal and the readability of the contents,

alongside to boost the effectiveness of the BEREC communication strategy, together with the use of further communication tools, such as social networks.

If you want to be constantly updated on BEREC activities, we invite you to follow us on social networks - Twitter and LinkedIn and to subscribe to the BEREC website in the homepage.

BEREC adopted a BEREC Opinion on Phase II investigation pursuant to Article 7a of Directive 2002/21/EC as amended by Directive 2009/140/EC on 29 January 2015.

On 17 December 2014 the European Commission informed the German National Regulatory Authority BNetzA and BEREC about its serious doubts considering that a draft measure concerning markets for call termination on individual public telephone networks provided at a fixed location in Germany (corresponding to Market 1 in Commission Recommendation 2014/710/EU of 9 October 2014) would create a barrier to the internal market.

Following its role and rulesBEREC adopted its opinion, stating that the expressed serious doubts by the European Commission are justified. More specific information about the serious doubts of the European Commission and BEREC’s assessment can be found here.

]]>BEREC now on LinkedIn with a corporate accounturn:uuid:e4c34a38-9474-5322-96c2-2391b790f7ef2015-02-05T22:45:10+02:00
BEREC has recently implemented the communication plan by setting official accounts in some of the most relevant social networks. Aiming at increasing its visibility among stakeholders and European citizens and taking into consideration the different audiences, BEREC has activated official accounts on Twitter (October 2013), on You Tube (October 2013) and now on LinkedIn (January 2015).

So, if you are interested in BEREC activities, please have a look and follow us

]]>Approaching deadline for registration for the Workshop on Oligopoly Analysis and Regulation (25 February 2015, Berne)urn:uuid:b3e42571-9503-5c81-ad93-69cf7205186f2015-01-29T18:49:16+02:00
The Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) would like to recall that the deadline for registration for participation in the Workshop on Oligopoly Analysis and Regulation is approaching.

The workshop will take place on 25 February 2015, from 13.00 to 18.00, at Hotel Allegro Kursaal, Kornhausstrasse 3, 3000 Berne 25, Switzerland, is open to all interest parties.

The Workshop has the objective to trigger additional internal reflection regarding the application of the existing regulatory framework to oligopolistic situations and their impact on the market regulation.

The main topics for discussion during the Workshop will be the following:

Trends leading to oligopolistic market structures, namely mergers and acquisitions, in the EU;

Market analysis in the context of potential oligopolistic situations;

Remedies in the context of oligopolistic situations.

More information about the specific topics for discussion can be found in the Workshop Agenda, which is available here.

The Workshop is open to all stakeholders interested in the topic but is subject to prior registration by 1 February 2015 through the BEREC website. Due to the limited number of seats, the requests for participation will be satisfied on the basis of the “first registered - first served” principle.

Riga, 29 January 2015

]]>Invitation to the BEREC Workshop on Oligopoly Analysis and Regulation (25 February 2015, Berne)urn:uuid:2f4deeeb-fffb-5215-82bd-4a9e8a2d6f822015-01-21T16:36:24+02:00
The Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) would like to invite all interested parties to a Workshop on Oligopoly Analysis and Regulation.

The workshop will take place on 25 February 2015, from 13.00 to 18.00, at Hotel Allegro Kursaal, Kornhausstrasse 3, 3000 Berne 25, Switzerland.

The Workshop has the objective to trigger additional internal reflection regarding the application of the existing regulatory framework to oligopolistic situations and their impact on the market regulation.

The main topics for discussion during the Workshop will be the following:

· Trends leading to oligopolistic market structures, namely mergers and acquisitions, in the EU;

· Market analysis in the context of potential oligopolistic situations;

· Remedies in the context of oligopolistic situations.

More information about the specific topics for discussion can be found in the Workshop Agenda, which is available here.

The Workshop is open to all stakeholders interested in the topic but is subject to prior registration by 1 February 2015 through the BEREC website. Due to the limited number of seats, the requests for participation will be satisfied on the basis of the “first registered - first served” principle.

BEREC takes this opportunity to remind to all interested parties that as part of the preparation for the workshop and in order to feed BEREC’s internal debatethe stakeholders have been invited to provide their input to BEREC on oligopoly analysis and regulation by filling in a questionnaire available on the BEREC website. The deadline for submitting replies to the questionnaire is 25 January 2015.

Riga, 21 January 2015

]]> BEREC E-publications have a new dedicated page. Check it out.urn:uuid:f5649862-2cd2-513a-b28e-5c6bac9098a52015-01-19T18:39:02+02:00
From today, a new section dedicated to BEREC publications is available at BEREC website. Here, for example, you may find electronic version of the recent printed publications and the latest issues of the BEREC newsletter. The objective is to increase the knowledge of a broader audience on BEREC role in the EU electronic communications sector and to stimulate the interest of the stakeholders, including European consumers.
]]>BEREC has adopted a BEREC Opinion on Phase II investigation (DE/2014/1666-1667)urn:uuid:a4215bce-d3ce-5a39-9e86-aa9dd1cee01f2015-01-19T18:39:02+02:00
BEREC has adopted a BEREC Opinion on Phase II investigation pursuant to Article 7a of Directive 2002/21/EC as amended by Directive 2009/140/EC on 14 January.

On 21 November 2014 the European Commission informed the German National Regulatory Authority BNetzA and BEREC about its serious doubts considering that a draft measure concerning Wholesale voice call termination on individual mobile networks (market 2) in Germany would create a barrier to the internal market.

Following its role and rules BEREC adopted its opinion, stating that the expressed serious doubts by the European Commission are justified. More specific information about the serious doubts of the European Commission and BEREC’s assessment can be found here.

]]>Upcoming events: BEREC Accessibility Workshopurn:uuid:1e1de60d-7d15-5c9e-b128-ddb67fcb5a5d2015-01-19T18:39:01+02:00
On 4 March 2015, BEREC will be hosting a Workshop to discuss the accessibility of electronic communications services for end-users with disabilities. The event will focus on the challenges faced by disabled end-users, the role of regulators in promoting accessibility and the initiatives taken by manufacturers, service providers and the Apps industry to make communications services more accessible for disabled end-users.

The Keynote speech will be delivered by the BEREC Chair, Prof. Fátima Barros, and there will be a variety of speakers taking part to share their views and experience on this subject, including organisations that represent disabled people, European National Regulatory Authorities, the European Commission, manufacturing industry and communications service providers.

Participants wishing to attend the Workshop should register their participation by filling in and submitting the below registration form before 25 February 2015.

]]>BEREC has adopted a BEREC Opinion on Phase II investigation (FR/2014/1670)urn:uuid:b55d1286-1416-515c-aba7-69ee4520e0d32015-05-04T15:13:59+03:00
BEREC has adopted a BEREC Opinion on Phase II investigation pursuant to Article 7 of Directive 2002/21/EC as amended by Directive 2009/140/EC on 29 December 2014.

On 28 November 2014 the European Commission informed the French National Regulatory Authority ARCEP and BEREC about its serious doubts considering that a draft measure concerning Wholesale SMS termination on individual mobile networks in France would create a barrier to the internal market.

Following its role and rules BEREC adopted its opinion, stating that the expressed serious doubts by the European Commission are partially justified. More specific information about the serious doubts of the European Commission and BEREC’s assessment can be found here.